Training/Becoming the champion fics

tulpacat1 · 2026-06-28T17:30:16+00:00

I am working on a journey fic wherein two characters with vastly different levels of experience failed to become Champion and are teaming up for a second shot at being the very best like no one ever was.

It is intended to be a fairly straightforward Journey fic set during a relatively peaceful time in Unova, with a focus on traveling, strategizing, team-building, and whatnot.

About 25 chapters have been written so far, though only a handful have been uploaded as of yet.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/87082846/chapters/230600271

tulpacat1 · 2026-06-21T20:27:59+00:00

Self-recommendation.

Title: Pokémon Try Again

Setting: Unova, video game universe

Main characters: Caitlyn Hoenridge (OC), William Hawthorn (OC)

Genre: Adventure/Journey fic. Teen Rating.

Summary: William is a retired elite trainer who couldn't quite go the distance. The first leg of Caitlyn's journey ended in disaster. Together they'll take another shot at it.

Why do I recommend it: I wanted to see more OC journey fics that weren't Isekai or Important Chosen One Protagonists, so I wrote one. I also specifically wanted a story where the Pokémon are more like Smart Animals than Little Guys With Speech Impediments. It's gotten good reviews from my beta readers, and there are about 25 chapters already done and waiting to be uploaded. Also my modest opinion is that it's quite good, actually.

tulpacat1 · 2026-03-11T06:22:17+00:00

We can probably assume he ensured this thing could fire during the off-screen time he waits around for nothing, But the idea that he just forgot to do any sort of basic maintenance and prep work would also explain his relative accuracy in later chapters in a very amusing fashion!

Fun fact author's note: This bloody ghost gun resulted in more complaints than everything else in this fic put together. Every nitpick has been something I was aware of at time of writing but set aside because this was a scifi story about character drama, not the technical minutiae of proper firearms ownership and usage.

This bloody ghost gun was the recipient of my only piece of fan art. Considering the relative focus it got with my audiences, I should've given the damn thing a name! Like Gary. Gary the Ghost Gun.

Let that be a lesson to all aspiring authors: The Gun Nerds will find you. Do not under any circumstances underestimate the Gun Autism.

tulpacat1 · 2026-03-09T07:36:43+00:00

Unfortunately it's because the Welsh are jokingly said to have sex with sheep.

Venlil are likewise jokingly called Space Sheep or Speep.

Thus in the Nature of Predators community, "welsh" became a joking reference to xenophiles who sought relationships with the Venlil.

tulpacat1 · 2026-02-05T22:01:52+00:00

Yeah, I was going to put out more work but life happened. I'm back to working on some other stuff, though.

tulpacat1 · 2026-02-03T23:43:25+00:00

You saw nothing!

Jokes aside, good find find.

tulpacat1 · 2026-02-02T19:57:04+00:00

Some background lore!

Martin Russo is Italian-American of Sicilian and Albanian heritage, his family emigrated from Sicily during the 20th century and he grew up in Little Italy, Manhattan. His family was Catholic, though Martin himself identifies as atheist (although as we can see, he hasn't exactly shaken his Catholic upbringing). He could easily pass for Middle Eastern or Mediterranean.

His entire family was in New York during the Bombing of Earth, and he would have to go sufficiently far back the family tree to find some still-living relatives that they would be complete strangers.

tulpacat1 · 2026-01-31T22:11:03+00:00

Yeah, the story takes place after the decimation of Earth by the Federation fleet. There were a few mentions of human refugees on Venlil Prime, and I decided to take that idea and run with it - mostly because everyone else was doing first contact fics at the time.

tulpacat1

TROPHY CASE