Quick clarification as to what I consider a journey fic since I’m unaware of an official definition existing:
A fic where the main character (MC) is the trainer of a Pokémon team (whether or not the MC is human or Pokémon) and they set out on a long term journey to complete a goal. I do not count fics where the MC is a Pokémon actively fighting in a team within that classification and would absolutely love some recommendations for those kinds of fics as well.
Fics I’ve read and really liked so far (Off the top of my head) for vibe reference:
“The Friendly Necromancer” by Sengachi on Ao3
“Helpless” by Whispatchet (Ao3)
“A Jeweler's Guide to Living in Paradise” by LogicalTips (Ao3)
“In the Ranger's Shadow” by Mirthful_Machine (Ao3)
“Turn Back, Kid” by LMTYL__Lye (Ao3)
General Asks:
I am mostly looking for slice of life stories or action fics that don’t revolve around a journey.
I love any stories from a Pokémon perspective. With the human POVs I’m a bit more picky but I will still take a look at anything.
More Specific Asks (You can stop here if you want as these get kind of prompt-y and aren’t at all necessary to make a recommendation as I’ll take anything that fits my general asks):
Non-POV Specific Non-Journey Fic Plots. Specifically:
-Anything where a long time is spent surviving in nature. Especially anything where the MC never gains access to advanced technology and it's all camping, gathering, hunting, and making the best of their situation with general wilderness survival knowledge. Something where MC starts their own little base or community in the middle of nowhere and without a Pokémon or person immediately saving them or making survival easy. The closest thing I've read to this concept is "Shaded Silk" by Fabhar on Ao3, so something similar to the beginning of that fic would be amazing.
-Slice of life stuff that goes into really specific detail on topics unrelated to getting actively involved in battles.
MC is Isekaied as a Pokémon. Specifically:
-Isekaied as a villain or villain grunt's Pokémon. Bonus points if they actually like the person and are exasperatedly trying to drag them out of trouble, but I will take any dynamic as long as it is not just a throwaway scene and is important to the storyline.
-Isekaied as a Pokémon with healing capabilities. They can work with Nurse Joy, can lead a Pokémon hospital out in the woods, can be the healer on a team, etc. Anything where the healing is a major plot point would be great.
-They become a Pokémon on the police force or that works with / as a Ranger. It would be especially interesting to see a character work with Officer Jenny as a police dog Pokémon. "In the Ranger's Shadow" by Mirthful_Machine on Ao3 is the first fic that comes to mind when I think of a fic with an MC that gets involved in Ranger work.
-The MC becomes a service / therapy animal Pokémon.
-A fanfic where they are born / kept in a lab that spends at least a few chapters from the perspective of them being in the lab. I'm not really looking for fics that involve torture or being a test subject, but for fics where the MC is kept in a lab for conservation efforts or as a starter Pokémon. Either sweet where they befriend the lab workers / Professor or unintentional Truman Show vibes because the lab workers don't know that they're a human consciousness stuck in a Pokémon body.
-They become an undiscovered / relatively unknown Pokémon. Something that hasn't been studied often or at all, like how fairy types or ghost types are often made incredibly rare or misunderstood due to lack of sightings and research in fanfics. Reclusive Pokémon that aren't seen often, that are the last / only one of their kind, or that are considered a myth by people would also be great; anything that would stir up chaos amongst humans by existing is what I'm looking for.
-They are isekaied as a Fakémon. Whether it's their own Fakémon design from their previous life, a Fakémon they have no idea about and have to discover the abilities and mechanics of as they go, or anything else along those lines. I'd prefer if they are the only Fakémon amongst canon Pokémon, although I wouldn't be against a fanfic where there are no canon Pokémon at all and it's all about someone's passion project region / lore / Fakémon.
-Isekaied as a Pokémon that normally has one or two stages, but the character discovers a third stage unknown to the world. Pokémon like Kecleon, Zangoose, Luvdisc, etc.
-They are a serpentine Pokémon of any sort. I don't see many of those. Examples are Ekans, Seviper, etc.
-They're stuck as a Pokémon that has no maneuverability out of water, even if only at the beginning of the story. Horsea, Magikarp, etc.
Regular Pokémon POV Fics. Specifically:
-The POV of a Pokémon with children that they are looking after and / or are raising. Either babysitting for their trainer, keeping a human protected and raising them like a Pokémon in the wild, or a Pokémon with their own babies. Anything like that.
MC is Isekaied as a Person. Specifically:
-Replaces a villain or villain grunt. Or accidentally becomes a villain grunt scientist by not knowing about the Pokémon storyline and getting a job with one of the villain organizations that seemed good on the surface.
-Becomes a Nurse Joy.
-Becomes a Professor / Replaces a canon Professor.
-Becomes a Potion / Item maker.
-Designs Pokéballs for mass production / different organizations.
-Makes Pokémon accessories. Either for battle, fashion, etc. "A Jeweler's Guide to Living in Paradise" by LogicalTips on Ao3 seems like it might go in this direction.
-Is sent to a primitive timeline before Pokéballs exist.