History Fanfic / PokemonStrangledRed

* BluntNo: When the narrator tries to open the save file of the previous player, he's just met with the word "No." Upon playing the game, he discovers why.

* DeconstructionGame: In-universe, the Pokémon Strangled Red hack.
* DespairEventHorizon: Steven losing Miki.
-->"His precious Miki was apparently dead, and with her, so died a part of him. His Pokédex, the other Pokémon, his badges, his fame, all of it, he threw it away."

* ItMakesSenseInContext: When the narrator tries to continue the hacked game from where the previous player left off, he is perplexed to find that he can't. He just sees the word "No" on the screen. Upon playing the game, he finds out exactly why continuing was impossible.

* LifeIsntFair: Invoked by Steven.
-->'''Steven:''' In a world that cheated me, [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight why should I play fair?]]

* ShoutOut: At the beginning, the narrator talks about Pokémon Creepypastas, specifically mentioning “[[Fanfic/PokemonBlack the one about a version where you get a ghost as a starter]]”.

* SignatureMon: Miki for Steven.
** Also, implied as Squirtle/Wartortle/Blastoise for Mike.

* StarterMon: Miki, obviously.
* SurprisinglyLenientCensor:[[invoked]] Lampshaded and justified:
-->'''Steven:''' Screw them...
-->"I quirked my eyebrow at that, forgetting for a moment this was not a real Pokémon game, the vulgarity just took me off guard."

** During his trek to resurrect Miki, an NPC in Lavender Town tells him, [[Literature/PetSematary "Sometimes, dead is best."]]

* StrawAngst: Rather than carry on without Miki after her death, Steven gives up, and [[spoiler:violates natural laws in order to bring her back... turning himself into a monster in the process]].

* NoAntagonist: The whole story basically consists of a kid playing a video game.

* TheScottishTrope: The characters in the hacked game (including Steven) all refer to [[spoiler:Missingno]] as "IT."

* WhatTheHellHero: After Steven [[spoiler:captures Missingno]], most [=NPCs=] won't talk to him. Heck, most of the trainers he meets on the way turn their backs when he passes.

-->"Sometimes dead is best."

The narrator finds a ''Pokémon Red'' cartridge in the trash. Since he ([[MostGamersAreMale assuming it actually is a he]], as a gender is not given) never played this particular game before, he takes it home before realizing that the game is hacked. Furthermore, he can't continue the game from where the previous player left off; whenever he hits the "Continue" button, he just gets a message: "No."

Frustrated, the narrator starts a new game. But to his surprise, he ''likes'' most of the alterations made to the game. Instead of playing as a silent protagonist who could be anybody, he plays as a fleshed-out character, Steven, with his Charmander, Miki, his brother, Mike, as a rival, realistic relationships and dialogue with various NPC characters, and a cool sprite to boot. And from context clues, the narrator is able to infer that the hacked game takes place a year before the actual ''Pokémon Red and Blue'' games.

The narrator restarts the game, and finds that he is resuming play from a year (in game time) after the previous scene. Steven is visiting the grave of Miki, who is implied to have died as a result of the failed trade. He appears to have completely given up on everything he achieved due to his grief, which doesn't seem to have gotten any better. And the narrator draws some [[FridgeHorror chilling conclusions]] about why some things in the vanilla ''Pokémon Red and Blue'' are the ways they are.

After a time wandering around aimlessly, wondering what he was supposed to be doing, the narrator does eventually find the path forward. Steven ''does'' know a way to bring Miki back, and goes for it. But he ultimately pays a terrible price.

* AppealToNature: Chillingly lampshaded by the narrator when, directing Steven to Lavender Town to resurrect Miki, he sees an NPC say:

** Lastly, when the narrator selects "M@#$" and selects the "Close" option, he's also met with this.

* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption: [[spoiler:The final menu for "M@#$" consists of four options: "Status," "Switch," "Close," and "Strangle." The narrator discovers that, to finish the game, he must choose the last option.]]

* NostalgiaFilter: Averted. While the narrator is excited to finally play Pokémon Red, he's impressed with the "improvements" he finds in the hacked game instead.

* OhCrap: The narrator, when he first sees [[spoiler:Steven's face after using Missingno:]]

* TearsOfFear: After the narrator witnesses Steven's NightmareFace, he is said to be shocked, trembling, and "crying like a baby".

* TheAllConcealingI: Nothing is known about the narrator. The narrator is referred to as "he" on this page for simplicity, even though "his" gender is unknown.

* MediumAwareness: The narrator demonstrates this, even going so far as to point out some of the cliches written into the story.

-->'''Steven:''' In a world that cheated me, why should I play fair?

-->'''Steven:''' In a world that cheated me, '''[[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight why should I play fair?]]'''

* ButThouMust: At the moment when Mike begs for Steven to trade Miki with him, the protagonist is given the choice to select "YES" or "NO" to it. "NO" is selected twice, though the protagonist just chooses "YES" after futilely doing this, just to advance the story.

* BluntNo: When the narrator tries to open the save file of the previous week player, he's just met with the word "No." Upon playing the game, he discovers why.

** Why was there no defending champion to challenge when Blue beat the Elite Four?

* NightmareFace: Steven gets one after he tries to bring Miki back to life. His face is darkened with a slasher smile and his eyes glow red.

* SanitySlippage: After Miki dies, Steven loses it and his ID shows he keeps changing in appearance.