In The Tags I Mentioned I Would Explain After 50 Notes, But I Have No Idea What I Was On At That Time

In the tags I mentioned I would explain after 50 notes, but I have no idea what I was on at that time to ask for that much for logic that is so barebones with only a little evidence. So I’m doing it now.

Disclaimer that the only thing I’ve seen about ERROR since making the post is the short plot synopsis that first reveals that the viewer is a transfer student.

The two different states of the animated classroom that Sora appears in struck me as odd. As a refresher: The first looks to be an average Japanese classroom at what I assume to be a early time after school. The second is the same classroom, but now appearing old and abandoned, presumably in the early evening. Why would they show us both of these, while also having Sora both times and looking the same between shots (barring change in expression)? That was when I first had the thought of ghost Sora. Then I directed my eyes to Sora’s feet in the ruined classroom, and saw a broken vase with a flower. 

For the uninformed, in some parts of the world (including most, if not all, of Japan) when a student passes away during the school year, a flower is placed on their desk. For me, this sealed the deal. I’m sure someone could say that the flower is an irrelevant detail, but it’s color and presence is out of place when compared to the rest of the room. The repetitive lines that Sora says in the first trailer also struck me as some sort of thing that a ghost who can’t move on might do.

That’s all the initial thoughts, but since the synopsis includes a rumor about bad things happening to those who aren’t nice to transfer students, I should also mention that placing flowers on the desk of a living student is typically a way of saying that you hope they die.

Just some thoughts from before, and I’m probably wrong due to other ideas suggesting it’s a computer program gone haywire, possibly a la Doki Doki Literature Club.

Hey hololive fans, I’m pretty Sora is gonna be dead during whatever the story for hololive ERROR is gonna be

actually crying at this one. i actually had a shiny ralts (full odds!) on my main team during my playthrough of PLA, so this gave some feels

Not all Pokédex entries are scary. Take Gardevoir's for example,

Tw: stabbing, blood, no one actually dies but there is a scare

MC with a Protective!Gardevoir. For story reasons I'm saying Gardevoir can use telepathy to speak.

GN!reader, kinda long, takes place in Blessed!AU where MC has super-healing thanks to Arceus

It all started the first time you went to the Crimson Mirelands. It had been raining that day. You'd been over by Gapejaw Bog, ducking under one of the crumbled archways of the ruins to escape the shower. For a while you stayed like that, crouched down and ever-so-slowly sinking into the muck and bog, scrolling through the list of requests on your ArcPhone. Technically you're only here to get some info on Pachirisu, but if you can sweep any other missions, you're happy to do so.

You're pulled out of your thoughts by a soft chirp. When you glance over you see a little Ralts. There's a very slight purple field of aura above her head that keeps the rain off. She's looking up at a tree that's blooming with berries. One of the berries has a sporadic, weak glow surrounding it. It shivers and shakes but refuses to fall. The longer this goes on, the more frustrated the Ralts looks.

Obviously she hears you coming. That was never a question. She looks up at you warily. Then looks back at the tree.

Hm. She must want a snack. You tuck your ArcPhone back into your pocket and carefully walk over, making sure to keep your steps light. You know this Pokémon has teleportation and you don't wanna scare her away.

'Berry.'

It's a simple enough word but it takes you by surprise. You've never been a big psychic user. Who knew they could talk? But then, you spoke to Arceus when you first got to this land so it doesn't phase you as much as it otherwise would. Instead you focus on the new mission you've been given. Normally you'd just use your Pokémon to shake the tree but that might scare Ralts. So instead you walk over to the tree and tentatively grip one of the lower branches. It's slick from the rain but you don't think it'll be too difficult to climb. Your survey boots are meant for this sorta terrain, right? Totally. So you hoist yourself up, wrapping your hand around an upper branch to support yourself. The berries are up near the top of the tree, but it isn't too high. So you fit your boot into the crook of two branches and push yourself higher. Your satchel is heavy and threatens to weigh you down but you stay extended. Reaching. Straining. Having to climb a little bit higher.

Success! You grab a handful! Now you just gotta figure out how to get-

CAW!

Turns out there was a Murkrow in that tree. You yell and throw your arm up to protect your face from getting clawed. In doing so you lose your grip and tumble down to the ground, landing on your back hard enough to knock the wind out of your lungs. You head spins.

'Okay?!'

The soft voice chimes in your ears. As a golden glow flickers along your form, you hold a wavering arm up to the sky. 'Gottem,' you wheeze, opening your hand to reveal the berries. Ralts' worried face hovers on the edge of your vision for a long moment.

And so you two became friends.

As she grew from Ralts, to Kirlia, to Gardevoir, she saw first-hand just how,,, dangerous being the leading member of the Survey team could be. Sure your Blessing keeps you from serious harm, but it isn't perfect. It doesn't make you immortal. There's been plenty of times you've gotten hurt and passed out, and Gardevoir had panickedly-teleported you back to base camp (usually managing to startle Laventon in the process). She learned how to use Healing Pulse too, moreso to ease her own concerns.

You don't mind. Much as you don't dwell on it, Hisui is a dangerous place. Everyone you meet tells you that. It's why Irida always packs you extra revives/potions/etc and Adaman always sneaks snacks into your satchel. And Gardevoir's teleportation has gotten you out of some serious scrapes in the past. You just wish she wouldn't lecture you for being impulsive and rash after every time your impulsive and rash decisions got you injured.

Which is,, kind of often, admittedly. Especially after you've befriended the Almighties. In your defense, what can you genuinely fear after you've allied yourself with Time, Space, and Void? Not much. But you keep yourself as safe as you relatively can because otherwise Gardevoir immediately teleports you back to base camp and starts lecturing you.

'How am I supposed to protect you if you don't protect yourself?'

You roll your eyes good-naturedly every time. It's sweet that she worries but you really aren't concerned. The landscape is familiar and with Gardevoir at your side, it's not like anything can overpower you.

Anything.

What about anyone?

Newcomers still come in to Jubilife sometimes, either from elsewhere around Hisui or from other regions. And since you're something of a hero around these parts, you've been recruited into the Welcoming Committee. There's still a lot of people that are afraid of Pokémon. It's your job to introduce these people to the idea of human-Pokémon harmony. There are a few Pokémon who help you out with this. But today Gardevoir has volunteered.

She's acting,, odd today. You noticed it as soon as you woke up. She seemed a little on-edge. You asked about it.

'Just some nightmares. It's nothing for you to worry about. Eat up! We have a big day today.'

Hm... Gardevoir tends to baby you a bit when she's nervous. Comes with being a 'guardian angel' Pokemon, as some people call her species. You also know that she can see glimpses into the future. That happens sometimes. She sees something and freaks out for the rest of the day. Usually whatever she sees is,, less than ideal. But Dialga has taught you that time isn't exactly linear progression of cause and effect. It's more like a big ball of wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey,,,stuff. Events can change, and so can the future.

So you don't press for info. Whatever happens either will or won't.

But you'd be lying if you said you weren't a little worried.

You and Gardevoir go to meet Rei and Akari in front of Galaxy Hall, where they have the newcomers gathered. Gardevoir remains just a step behind you, silent and watchful. The kids hand the spiel over to you.

In short it's not a very fun time.

There's a downside that comes with your folklore-level status; people know you. Actually they know of you and honestly that's worse. Some respect you. More fear of you. They think any one person being 'in possession' of three gods would be driven insane by the power. Or were already insane. Or were some sort of puppet. Or an evil overlord. Or a Pokemon pretending to be a human. Or a god pretending to be a human.

So you do your best to be pleasant and casual, even if it's obvious that about half the people look worried about you one way or the other. Might be easier if Gardevoir wasn't worriedly hovering at your shoulder. You have to keep discreetly tugging her so her feet hit the ground. She does speak to the others, but her words are clipped in annoyance.

'MC's surveys vary in length. If you are not in the Survey Corp then it isn't your business.'

Not exactly the best first impression.

Once your segment is finally over with, you can throw the newcomers at Cyllene. As soon as you're alone you scowl at Gardevoir. But she doesn't seem even the slightest bit sorry, merely shrugging away your concerns.

'I just don't think we should be so forthcoming with your schedule.'

What are they gonna do? Kill you? As if. But you've been through this enough to understand that in times like these, you gotta just let Gardevoir do whatever calms her down. Otherwise she's liable to start opening random black holes everywhere.

At least you think they're random. She seems incredibly precise about it, but it never makes sense to you.

The day goes on. Gardevoir calms down quite a bit but she still stays at your shoulder. That's fine. She chatters, sometimes in your language. Sometimes in Pokéspeak. You aren't sure what she's saying at those times but you like the background noise. You two go out to do a quick survey of the Obsidian Fieldlands, spending most of the afternoon enjoying the sun and creeping through tall grass.

It gets dark. You manage to slip and fall into a mud puddle. You two finally call it a night.

When you get back home, Gardevoir goes into her Pokéball to sleep. You don't blame her. It's well past midnight. But all the same, you change into your pajamas and step outside to wash your survey uniform. You hum to yourself as you kneel beside the tub and scrub scrub scrub. It takes a little while - a half hour or so to fully get the muck out - but you don't mind. You've more than surpassed your quota for this week so you can afford to sleep in tomorrow.

You wring out your clothes so they stop dripping, then step behind your house to hang them up on the clothesline you have strung up behind there. You're still humming to yourself. So you don't hear the footsteps.

Why are the shadows moving like that?

You whirl around just in time to see the man who was raising a knife - one of the newcomers, some distant part of your brain points out, one of the ones that had looked afraid of you before - being struck by a ball of aura. And there's Gardevoir, eyes glowing so bright they're nearly white.

What happens next is a total blur.

Shouting. Screaming. Lights.

Gardevoir teleports in front of you just in time to catch a knife to the shoulder.

You spring into action and rush forward, slamming your head into the man's chest to shove him away. Pain lances through your back but it only adds to your fury. You're shoved back, hard, and narrowly manage to keep your footing.

You're a Trainer. You're supposed to protect your Pokémon.

Screaming. Lights. Blood.

Even your Arceus-given healing powers aren't enough. You hear pounding footsteps, shouting from all over, the familiar woosh! as a black hole opens.

You black out.

...

...

...

You wake up in the infirmary.

Your body is sore but that might just be because the bed is so uncomfortable. You sit up slowly just to make sure you don't cause any more damage.

The first thing you see is Adaman and Irida sharing a couch, his head on her shoulder and her head on top of his. They're both snoring.

Almighty Sinnoh, you're pretty sure what woke you up was their snoring.

The next thing you see is Gardevoir perched on the foot of your bed, facing the door.

'You should rest more.' Even in your head, her voice sounds tired.

You ignore her suggestion entirely and crawl over to sit next to her. She rolls her eyes but doesn't stop you, well-accustomed to your stubbornness.

apparently Rei and Akari immediately went to tell Adaman and Irida about what happened. They both rushed here to offer their clan's unique medicine, but by then you'd already mostly healed. They decided to stay to help Gardevoir keep an eye on you, but had passed out about twenty minutes later.

Her wound has been healed, as have yours. But she's upset she let you get hurt. She has Future Sight. She should have been able to stop this. But she saw it was a human involved and hesitated, not wanting to take extreme measures for fear of worsening your reputation. And so she blames herself for your injuries.

Yeah. Because you headbutting the guy was totally her fault.

'Tch, I should have expected that. You've always been so impulsive.'

You grin and say that's why she likes you.

Gardevoir rolls her eyes. She reaches into a little pouch sitting beside her and pulls out a few berries, offering you one.

'Hm. I suppose.'

Pokemon: Legends of Platinum

(I think goofy mashup titles are neat) (This can also just be called the Wrong Warp AU)

Sometime after the end of Platinum, Cynthia discovers another entrance to the Distortion World, finds Cyrus inside waiting for death, and decides to bring him out of it

Cyrus makes no attempt to get up or do anything other than be grumpy, so Cynthia has to alternate between dragging him around and having him in a bridal carry

By the time they get to where Cynthia entered the realm, the exit... has already closed back up

Fuck

After searching around, Cynthia ends up finding another exit, so she throws Cyrus in and leaps through

The two end up on a cold as shit mountain, but because they’re both from Sinnoh it’s just a normal mountain to them

Neither of them really recognize where they are, though Cyrus wasn’t making an effort anyways

Cynthia can’t shake the feeling it’s somewhat familiar, but other than that she’s got no clue

So, roadtrip time, with the goal of finding someone who can tell them where they are

Of course, it’s mostly Cynthia carrying Cyrus around because he still refuses to do anything other than ask Cynthia to just leave him for dead

It’s not even like a pathetic last request to stop prolonged suffering or anything, he’s just annoyed that he can’t sit in nothingness anymore

“Let me die, Cynthia.” “Shut up, Cyrus.”

At the very least, Cynthia was able to figure out how to maneuver him onto her back so he’s easier to transport

Eventually, the two stumble upon a small village with people in traditional Sinnoh clothing

Cynthia goes up to ask an older woman where this place is, and has an... enlightening conversation

“Oh, are you with the Galaxy Team, dearie?” “Uh... yes?” “Oh, that’s wonderful! They’ve done such good work in helping our little slice of Hisui. On behalf of the rest of Jubilife Village, please, take these!”

The lady ends up giving her some apples, and wandering off as Cynthia is locked in place processing the information

Jubilife Village? Hisui, like in that one historical text?

She does a 180 and looks at the mountain that, from this angle, is a dead ringer for Mt. Coronet

Double fuck

Bonus “Cyrus, I think we’ve gone back in time.” “I know. I figured it out hours ago. “... You WHAT?!”

Just so y’all know: I can’t speak for every other fic author but I can say that I remember when people leave me kind comments. I recognize your urls and/or usernames on AO3. I remember you and sometimes in writing my fics I think to myself, “Oh, I hope this person sees this because they liked x in this other fic I did.”

Not only that—I go back and reread comments when I’m feeling low. I look at tags and reblogs and asks and wish I could hold them in my hand like a note from a friend on an old, torn piece of notebook paper.

Your comments have so much more impact than you know. So thanks to those who use the comment section to spread love and encouragement. We appreciate you.

Columbo: Three Hopes