Fanfics centered around legendary Pokemon

[Gummy]

I would have posted this in the Lounge but since I was the last poster, I can't, so...

How do you guys feel about fics centered around legendary Pokemon. Yes, I'm aware of all the cliches that just entered your mind, but just listen: how about writing the fic from the perspective of the legend, or have that legend as the main character. When people usually include legendary Pokemon I their fics, it's usually as a deity or a symbol for worship, but I've yet to read a fic that explains the legends (most of which being normal Pokemon with a little extra power) feel about this. Do they accept the special treatment, or despise it? Plus, I've already gotten the title down *points at sig* (yes, I've dropped the old DI idea. This one fits the title much better). Feel free to leave by any comments that come to mind.

 

[JX Valentine]

but I've yet to read a fic that explains the legends (most of which being normal Pokemon with a little extra pwer) feel about this.

Go look at Farla's work. Or, well, any classical myth.

My thoughts on legendaries in general is it depends on how one wrote it and what they were going for. A detailed narrative from the point of view of the subject, sure. Something that just arbitrarily casts a legendary as one of the main characters alongside a Sue, no.

For perspective fics, I personally think that legendaries see themselves in the same way as the gods did from Greek and Roman mythology. They're well aware that they're gods and possess more power over other beings, but really, they don't care past maybe their duties to serve as the god of the sea or whatnot for humans.

Not to mention it's a lot like the difference between humans and animals, I think. We have a certain consciousness of the idea that we're superior to most animals, but beyond that, it really doesn't enter our minds that often because it's just something that always was, if that makes sense.

But it's up to you. I'd definitely look at classical mythology for inspiration, though.

 

[Gummy]

Go look at Farla's work. Or, well, any classical myth.

My thoughts on legendaries in general is it depends on how one wrote it and what they were going for. A detailed narrative from the point of view of the subject, sure. Something that just arbitrarily casts a legendary as one of the main characters alongside a Sue, no.

For perspective fics, I personally think that legendaries see themselves in the same way as the gods did from Greek and Roman mythology. They're well aware that they're gods and possess more power over other beings, but really, they don't care past maybe their duties to serve as the god of the sea or whatnot for humans.

Not to mention it's a lot like the difference between humans and animals, I think. We have a certain consciousness of the idea that we're superior to most animals, but beyond that, it really doesn't enter our minds that often because it's just something that always was, if that makes sense.

But it's up to you. I'd definitely look at classical mythology for inspiration, though.

You make perfect sense and it's sort of what I was aiming at. Most of the legends would know (or at least think) that they are superior to both the humans and lesser Pokemon, but there'd be a select few (main character) that believe that they're just as mortal as all the other beings.

 

[txteclipse]

I use or will use many of the legendarys in my fic, but I try to tone down their uberness for the sake of the story. For instance, the two main characters are partnered with a Latias and a Latios, and all four of them are fairly new to the whole fighting thing at the start. They actually run from a lot of their first battles.

Basically, legendary use is fine if it doesn't break the story. If the main characters are teamed up with awesome legendaries right off the bat and simply destroy everything in their path, then that leaves a lot to be desired.

Which is not to say that I don't believe there can be very powerful legendaries in fics, but there better be some extremely good character development or plot to go with it, such as how the legendary feels about only being able to destroy things or whatever. You have to find a balance between reveling in the legendary's power and allowing them to be an actual character by focusing on things besides their strength. If you strike that balance, I'd say go for it.

 

[Percy Thrillington]

You make perfect sense and it's sort of what I was aiming at. Most of the legends would know (or at least think) that they are superior to both the humans and lesser Pokemon, but there'd be a select few (main character) that believe that they're just as mortal as all the other beings.

Well, in my fan fiction, it's totally centered round the legends, and to decide how strong each were, I said to myself 'If you stabbed so-and-so with a dagger, would that legendary die?' It's a pratical way of just trying to figure out what'd be, say, stronger than most Pokemon.

But it depends what we're looking at, for instance, a Charizard is stronger than a Charmander so are we saying that, say, Palkia, is as strong as Charizard, or stronger still? I mean, it's a hard question to answer.

But, I think realistically when it comes to the Legends. Obviously, if you take maybe... Celebi, it could be killed easily, by setting it on fire, shooting it... But it has the power to travel through time, so, without strength, it can save itself.

It really all comes down to the author and his/her opinions on the Pokemon in question.

 

[Sydian]

At least you named your's well. X.x

I have found myself lowering the strength of Darkrai in one of my fics. At times, it will pick back up, and yes, it was hard to defeat, and it came back, but it still suffered the attacks casted upon it and vise versa. And the fic I speak of isn't posted on this site...it's on Serebii...and I'm not too fond of myself for it. But, it's not completly done. I still have my chances to redeem myself. Back on subject, I think there are some authors who'll lower it to show it's nothing more than a Pokemon, just praised to be 'something', but others make it deadly strong. Like it's said above, it depends on the author's opinions...

 

[bobandbill]

Only really 'bad' stories with legendaries are the ones with the main charcters catching one or two or 6 and using them to take on the gym leaders and become 'teh champion!' Even then it can be good if done properly and realistically - don't really see any problem about legendary Pokemon in fics - they just have to be written in the right manner. Your idea Gummy seems well thought out.

I've seen various intrepretations of how strong legendary Pokemon really are - but have noted that if their power is toned down, it's for a reason and is backed up well.

Actually, my story will be seeing some legendary Pokemon in due course - as it is based on Pokemon Colosseum. Though that is a while in coming...

 

[EmeraldSky]

When I write legends into a story, they ae usually the guardians of something important, and usually will allow the heroes to have said item--if they show the proper credentials. (i.e. battle or do some sidequest).

However, my friend RaikouRider has done wonderfully with creating riders for the Legendary Beasts (Raikou/Entei/Suicune). He maintains that a human can bond with a Legendary, but it takes a lot more work than a typical Pokemon.

 

[Incinermyn]

My upcoming fic Feral Twilight is deeply centered around eight legendary fakemon. Four of them are demons based on preexisting greek/roman legends, but have my own twist so they're not just the same old legends retold just in Poke world instead of the real world. The others, though, are urban-legendaries purely of my own creation.

The thing I've always found interesting about having legends as the center of fics is that it kind of shows a slight connection to the importance of history in society, even if it is all just made up stuff. So, I wouldn't exactly say that involving legendaries in fics is an overrated technique.

 

[Orginal_Pillar]

W
But, I think realistically when it comes to the Legends. Obviously, if you take maybe... Celebi, it could be killed easily, by setting it on fire, shooting it... But it has the power to travel through time, so, without strength, it can save itself.

It really all comes down to the author and his/her opinions on the Pokemon in question.

I don't know, I like to take it by game/anime canon and say that they're uberly powerful, and that I shouldn't dumb them down to be something less vicious.

I don't think legends could ever 'easily' be taken out unless there was some huge advantage, such as the Scyther/Houndoom combo on Celebi in the fourth movie. Looking at Celebi in the games, at it's highest level it only has thirty or so less defence points than a pokemon like Nosepass, who could obviously take a shot. Saying that something that small would realistically be torn apart by a bullet dosen't really work in the pokemon world, unless you're to write Jirachi getting killed the same way (who's part steel) =/. Celebi would probably make the gun explode before the person could ever shoot out fire/bullets (unless in a controlled enviroment), and even if Celebi got shot/burnt, it's important to consider Celebi's status as an incredibly powerful pokemon in the games/anime and figure that it could withstand it long enough to heal/teleport instead of it just getting killed, no questions asked.

But yeah, the legend's power can change greatly depending on how everyone sees the legends and the canon they live in, in their own light. :)

 

[Scales]

I don't really mind legendary pokemon being protagonists in fanfics. (I am even writing one). Just as long as the fanfic itself is properly written and free of cliche's

 

[Astinus]

Don't bump threads. Look at the date of the last post before posting. Review the rules of the forums.

Closing since this thread is a zombie.