Pokémon/Shipping/Fanfic Recs

These are recommendations made by Tropers for Pokémon Shipping Fanfic, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. Feel free to add a fanfic of your own to the list, but remember to use the template found here.

You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.

Fanfic Recs fics should be posted on the appropriate page.

Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.

Stories focused on the romantic relationships between the cast.

Watch Your Back by Maia's Pen
 * Recommended by User:Nexus
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Gary/Misty (Yeah, I know. But it's written so well that it actually made it seem plausible, and I usually hate reading non-canon pairing ships.)
 * Synopsis: An unidentified new pokemon kidnaps all of the world's strongest trainers one-by-one. After they are all gathered, they are forced by an ancient cult to participate in a rather dark Tournament Arc. The story mainly focuses on Ash, Gary, and Misty.
 * Comments: Very dramatic and well-written, though the descriptions of the battles could be better.

When One Ends by Soulja and a Gentleman
 * Recommended by User:The Jabberwock
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Pairings: Ash/Misty, May/Drew and Brock/Solidad
 * Synopsis: After Ash disappears from the face of the earth for five years, he returns to Pallet Town hoping to open a Gym there. However, much has changed since he left, including himself: He recently realized that he has feelings for Misty. Unfortuantely, Misty's already taken; she's dating a rich socialite named Nigel. The story focuses on Ash and Misty's now complicated relationship, along with some other subplots and a slew of OCs.
 * Comments: Extremely well written, though the grammar can use some work. The characters' personalities are engaging and fun, and each OC has a different and well-defined personality, especially Cloudcuckoolander Kai. The humor is also well timed. The drama between Ash and Misty somehow manages not to get boring. A personal favorite fic of mine.
 * User:Canto Candidus: Your Mileage May Vary about the OC's, i've seen better and with all due respect, they were irritating for me to read and i stopped halfway through the fic after multiple tries to at least NOT dislike them, it felt like they just barged their way through into the story. Again, this is just me talking. Read the fic and make your own judgement.

Freak on a Leash by Nibzo
 * Recommended by User:Ketsu
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Gary/Ash, Misty/Brock (not in focus)
 * Synopsis: "Ash is the missing link between Pokemon and humans, and is kept on a tight chain. But when Gary walks into his life, things could change drastically--but for better, or for worse?" Starts out dark, but a bit fluffy. One bit of sumt. Most definitely yaoi.
 * Comments:  Well written and I know it made me cry. Very short at only nine chapters, but a good read.

Her Biggest Fan by Zephyr Paws.
 * Recommended by User:Ethereal Frog.
 * Status:
 * Pairings: OC Weavile/OC Plusle
 * Synopsis: "Atra, a cold, detached Weavile that cares only for fighting and solitude, is pestered by her Trainer's newest Pokemon: a rare colored Plusle named Elly that he traded for." A F/F Porn with Plot. Link is NSFW.
 * Comments: Its Better Than It Sounds, assuming it doesn't sound promising. Oh, this one. A wonderful, well-written story. Although, the ending is, uh, sad. Have some free time before starting it though, the chapters are rather long, and multiple sittings don't fit well with the story, but, again YMMV.

A Pikachu in Love by Golem Gojira.
 * Recommended by Toko WH
 * Status: Complete
 * Pairings: Pikachu/OC Pikachu.
 * Synopsis: Set way back in the Jotho Saga. On their way to the next gym, the main cast decides to take a little break in a forest. On that night when Pikachu catches a familiar scent on the winds, the events that insue send Pikachu into making one of the hardest descisions of his life...
 * Comments: One of the rare Pokemon anime fics that mainly focuses' on the main cast Pokemon. Being someone who is not big on shipping fics or anime fics ingeneral, I personally hold this as one of the best Pokemon fanfics I've ever read. Not only does it give some deep focus on the aspect of Pikachu's relationship with Ash and the main cast, but generally feels like something Pikachu would go through. Although due to I not being good at describing fics, and the OC Pikachu as well as OC/Canon character pairings ingeneral being YMMV, I will say this: Never before or after has a fanfiction, let alone Pokemon fic got me to express such a range of emotions, and left me with a sense of melancholy like I've ever experanced before.

All We Know Is Falling by d i n o b o t.
 * Recommended by User:Dark Gyarados
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Ash/Misty
 * Synopsis: " Years in the future, Ash Ketchum is an agent of the Pokémon League sent to investigate the disappearance of an old friend. The evidence leads him to Cerulean City, fatal battles and a deadly conspiracy that could threaten all he holds dear."
 * Comments: Although it has its flaws, this fanfic is very well written and structured. It's got some kick-ass action scenes that really impressed this troper, Ash and Misty's romance was developed very nicely and it wasn't childish. On the whole, this is one of the many examples of how a Pokeshipping fanfic should be written.
 * User:Pykrete: A few very minor nitpicks, but lots of substance. Characters are kept believable, Ash Took a Level In Badass while still being a lovable doofus -- he feels a bit like Red, really -- and it seems Paul mellowed out just the right amount. Basically a really fun read that realizes any fluff between Ash and Misty will have a hell of a lot of steel behind it.

The Sound Of Falling Rain by DOTMW
 * Recommended by User:Sagacious Zu
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Ash/Misty, other minor pairings
 * Synopsis: Ten years after the start of the series, Ash vanishes from a championship tournament only to appear on Misty's doorstep one rainy afternoon. Misty's worried that something's wrong and through the course of the night, she unravels what finally scared Ash into finally giving up.
 * Comments: Still ongoing (described by the author as a "oneshot that got away from [him/her]") this fic is AAML matured and distilled into a small space of time with the emphasis on their relationship over the years. The author keeps the reader in Misty's shoes for the most part, unraveling the mystery as she understands it (and as of chapter 4, the whole "puzzle" is still forming). The author does a good job of keeping the lens focused on Ash and Misty while still including Ash's other friends who are just as worried as Misty. Still ongoing but promising to be a solid fic overall.
 * Completed as of August 17, 2010! And it has a very, very satisfying ending that is incredibly heartwarming.

Pokemon Diamond and Pearl: Time Travel by JapanDreamer09
 * Recommended by User:Assassin
 * Status: Ongoing.
 * Pairings: Lucas/Dawn
 * Synopsis: Team Galactic ruled the world. Now Lucas went back in time fourteen years ago to stop them. Along the way, he meet Dawn and Damion. Will they be able to save the world? Will Lucas want to go back after he realized his feelings for Dawn?
 * Comments: Like the author's other fics, this story is a finely combined concoction of both the games and the manga. The time travel aspect is a glimpse into a future where Cyrus succeeds in his plans and offers a story of what his victims endure. While it could feel rushed in the execution with the occasional grammar and spelling errors, it's a good read.

His Queen by Night Rain Illusion.
 * Recommended by Pichu
 * Status: Complete.
 * Pairings: Jun/Mitsumi
 * Synposis: Jun/Mitsumi. If you tell him that "love at first sight" isn't real, Jun will simply say that he must be blind with love for her. Based on the Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure! manga
 * Comments: Well..It's a DPA fanfiction, and this troper has only seen around two including this one. It's a short and simple fanfic that delves into Jun and Mitsumi's relationship. It's a recommended read, for even people unfamiliar with the manga.

A New Chance Series by ARCEUS-Master
 * Recommended by Poptard, Caellach Tiger Eye
 * Status:
 * A New Chance At Life: Complete
 * A New Chance For Adventure: Ongoing
 * Pairings: Ash/Latias, Pikachu/Umbreon (Gary's), one-sided Misty/Ash.
 * Synopsis:
 * A New Chance At Life: "Latios was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for Altomare, for his sister. But some fortunate events give him a second chance at life thanks to Latias and Ash. So Altomare is safe and Latios is alive. Now, both Dragons depart with Ash on his journey."
 * A New Chance For Adventure: "Finishing the Johto region while catching two Legendary Pokémon, Latias and Latios, was certainly a joyous experience for Ash. With that region behind him, Ash has now set his sights on a new challenge: the Hoenn League."
 * Comments ("A New Chance At Life"): A very well written What-if story. The story covers Ash's journey to the Silver Conference with two Olympus Mons in tow. The writting gets continually better each chapter, and the characterization is perfect. There's even some Ash/Latias fluff. It's nearing completion, but will be continued in a sequel with Ahs going to Hoenn.
 * I second this one without hesitation. Though labelling it as a primarily Shipping fic is questionable, the romance is being hinted at frequently and is very slow-burning (a Justified Trope due to Ash's Oblivious to Love nature), but it's still there. Characterisation is strong and consistent, the humour never feels over-repetitive even with some Running Gag elements, and there is actually a pre-planned plot going on - in fact, the first story is just a Prologue to the much, MUCH bigger plot which is to be unravelled in ANCFA. Not to mention the expanded roles of faces such as Bianca (Movie 5), and the less-seen Team Rocket agents (who have a very large role for the sequel being Foreshadowed). My only quibble is the diminishment of some supporting characters (ie: Harrison, Macey, Jackson, etc), but given the structure, even this is excusable. Concluding, I must commend the author for his dedication towards this AU series - few who set at such a task are as skilled, patient or competent at it as ARCEUS-Master.

In Ruins by Lanie Kay-Aleese •Recommended by User:Sofia Merriweather
 * Status: Complete
 * Synopsis: It's a more mature and a darker look at the Pokemon cast, especially Shigeru and Satoshi (Gary and Ash). This fic details what happens after Ash comes back home, gets bored, and goes to visit Shigeru's workplace at ancient ruins, beeing thrown into a time where the ruins were alive with people and a unique culture. But why were they put there? And who put them there? Shigeru and Satoshi must find themselves, find out what's going on, and find a way home.
 * Pairing(s): Shigeru/Satoshi or Gary/Ash. This is male slash, but as a romance is very tastefully written. This is equally a romance and adventure story.
 * Comments: I love it, and it's very well written. The emotions and characters are real. It's pretty addictive, I must warn you.

''Bullet Proof by Otte
 * Recomended by User:Faislittlewhiteraven
 * Status: Complete
 * Pairing: Manga version Gold/Silver SLASH
 * Synopsis: A one-shot set within an alternate manga verse. Actual summary: "They never expected to get in this deep. However, against impossible odds, all you can do is fight back."
 * Comments: Seriously, a very additive oneshot that takes a few plot threads left hanging from the end of the Emerald arc and manages to turn it into one of the most dark and intense fics I've ever read. It constantly jumps perspective between characters and between past and present but surprisingly still tells an understandible (if not an extremely well written) story, as well as managing to give one of the best reasons for why humans don't carry weapons that I've ever read in the process. It has a few lines of song fic but those are easily ignored; the shipping is also fairly ignorable except for a few lines in the middle and at the end, so for those not as into slash as myself please just ingore the shipping and read it anyway. Highly recomended.

Except Me by Mel-Girl
 * Recommended by User:Chariot
 * Status: Discontinued.
 * Pairings: Multi-shipping fic.
 * Synopsis: A fic set in AU at a boarding school. Revolves around Kengo trying to get with Hikari as well as various other character relationships.
 * Comments: An extremely memorable fic about life, love, and the stuggle for courage. Very good, I was sad to see it go.

Cavern Of A Million Colours by Eeveebeth Fejvu
 * Recommended by User:Canadian Phoenix
 * Status: Complete
 * Pairings: Ash/Misty, (implied)
 * Synopsis: "A novel. A magical cave doesn't seem like such a bad place to get trapped in, especially with your best friend. However, when a frightening occurrence happens to Ash and Misty, will Brock, May, and Max be able to get them out... alive? AAML"
 * Comments: The fic that got me into fanfiction. Admittedly a fan of Ash/Misty so I may be biased, but the tentative emotions between the two feels very tender and realistic, when taking into account their situation.

Cerulean Aurum by kagome002
 * Recommended by discorobots
 * Status: Ongoing
 * Pairings: Silver/Ethan [Game-verse]
 * Synopsis: Those eyes were what drew him in. Every time he looked at those irises, no matter how many times he's seen them throughout his journey, they never fail to shine with the lustrous, beautiful glimmer of pure gold.
 * Comments: A heart warming piece that leaves you light hearted and wanting for more at the end of each chapter. The slow pacing conveys a sense of soft, tender emotions throughout the story.

Hopeless by Morriganmkii
 * Recommended by pokefan
 * Status: ongoing
 * Pairings: oc/oc
 * Synopsis: "A trainer lost in Eterna Forest finds comfort."
 * Comments: Starts off a bit slow, but it really picks up by the fifth chapter. the author has a good sense of grammer, and I'm excited to see what he/she does with it next.

United Through Two Worlds by Zer0c00l
 * Recommended by pokefan
 * Status: ongoing
 * Pairings: oc/oc
 * Synopsis: "A young man, bored with life and the world, is suddenly united with a being that by all physical laws shouldn't exist. A pokemon."
 * Comments: Huge story with many and varied characters. lots going on, plenty of action and character development. I can't recommend this one enough.
 * Contested. I have been reading this one up to chapter seven, and while the plot is largely interesting and very plausible, the writing is horrible (repeated statements every now and then, defective punctuation, Rouge Angles of Satin and more), romance is shallow and too hurried to be believed, and the author takes every single chance he can to demonize humans through the view of a loner by choice that is barely past his teens. This fic isn't godawful, but there's much better stuff out there.

Girly Boyby Weathered Ego
 * Recommended by Gr3mlinify
 * Status: Complete
 * Pairings: Jessie/James; (Rocketshipping)
 * Synopsis: "James notices how Jessie seems to be attracted to his effeminacy…and he's not quite sure how he feels about that. Slightly dark. Some slight out-of-characterness. Implied sexual situations. One-shot.."
 * Comments: Although at first glance it appears to be a typical Rocketship that emphasizes the Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy dynamic of the group, the story is actually a stealth criticism of molestation/harrassment is love, as well as of the Bishonen trope ,the fanatical Bishie-fangirl, and the implications about the types of people that would actually accept this behavior as genuine affection.
 * Dellanotte: Yeek. Seconded, but yeek. While this fic gives a pretty good character analysis of James, beware of shades of Rape Is Love... which the characters lampshade just a little too much. On the plus side, James does stand up for himself, so it's not total Ukefication.

Ashes to Ashes by Island Wolf
 * Recommended by 2writeis2life
 * Pairings: Maxie/May
 * Synopsis: "May Maple used to think life was simple, that good always triumphed over all, but when the new evil that threatens Hoenn consumes her she must rely on an old enemy to be her savior and in the deepening shadows two hearts might find their own salvation"
 * Comments: This is the first fanfic based around the Maxie/May pairing ever to appear on Fanfiction.net, and is credited with helping to bring the pairing into the relative mainstream. It's also one of, if not the best fics of its kind. The relationship is surprisingly well-done and believable, and both Maxie and May have fairly complex, fleshed-out personalities and motivations. There are a few spelling and grammar errors, but nothing that detracts from the meaning of the story. In addition to the romantic relationship the story also features a plot in which Maxie and May must team up to help take down Cipher (who are bent on capturing May and turning her into the perfect Shadow soldier), and it's really interesting to see characters from the last of the Lighter and Softer Pokémon games go up against some of the darkest and scariest villains ever to grace the franchise- especially when you consider that both Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire and Pokémon Colosseum were produced just a couple of years apart from one another. The story also neatly avoids making the characters' May-December Romance too creepy (though perhaps not not-creepy, as even the characters themselves note) by having May be an adult.

A New Journey by Texas Longhorn
 * Recommended by Scimitar S
 * Pairings: Ash/Misty
 * Status: In progress
 * Synopsis: Ash has finally defeated Cynthia and become the Sinnoh League Champion. But his adventure isn't over yet. Cynthia has given him a mysterious box, which contains instructions pertaining to the next step of his journey: to become the Pokemon Master! Unfortunately, Team Rocket is on the move... and it isn't just Jessie, James, and Meowth this time. Now, it's the whole organization, and Giovanni has a dangerous new operative. Technically no longer canon due to the introduction of Gen V.
 * Comments: An amazing story. As it goes on, the story gets Darker and Edgier, with a few Lighter and Softer moments thrown in as Ash goes around the regions capturing all the Pokemon he hasn't already caught. TL introduces a new character (not his own, by the way) in chapter 44. This character is a little overpowered, but he's had a generally warm reception.

Unreliable Sources by R. Vienna
 * Recommended by @/Max300frk
 * Pairings: May/Steven, Lyra/Ethan
 * Status: Completed
 * Synopsis: When I met Steven Stone, in someway, I was affected.
 * Comments: This is a very well written one-shot which I believe captures a situation of what could happen during Steven Stone's trip to the Sinnoh Region. Each of the characters' personalities are captured really well, especially Steven's personality. The fic contains two very good pairings and is worth a read if you are interested.

An Electrifying Valentines by Xianyu
 * Recommended by User:Tambov 333
 * Pairings: OC Luxray/OC
 * Status: Completed
 * Synopsis: "Lex is a Luxray, an orphan, 'raised' by the street, forever watching the mansion on the hill and wishing she could live that life..." When she offers its inhabitant a Valentine card, he takes her home to feed and wash - and she's eager to reciprocate the latter part...and more.
 * Content warnings: Xenofiction, Explicit Content, WAFF, Lemon, violence (not part of the lemon), female Pokémon on male human oral, male human on female Pokémon oral, het.
 * Comments: There is strong focus on Lex's feeling towards the (unnamed) male lead, and on her transformation from a desperate crush to a Defrosting Ice Queen to Violently Protective Girlfriend.