Cross-Generational Fanfic / Retcons

[Stratelier]

The arrival of a new game generation in October means the dawn of a new era in fanfiction. But I'm not interested in the new stories featuring the new characters, location(s), or Pokemon.

What I'm interested in is, for those of us working on a singular story over the long haul, what effect does a new generation have on that story by itself?

For example, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness/Sky was decidedly 4th generation, but the story based on it I'm working on throws in a few cameos of 5th generation influences. And not just spot cameos here and there: The illusory Groudon battle is actually a strong Zoroark in disguise (and on top of that, his name is Kotaro), there's a Mienshao on one of the rescue teams who also mentors my main character (a Riolu) at some point, and an Absol is implied to have a "righteous heart". I'm also considering a backstory event where the elite Team Charm ran afoul of Kyurem's wrath while out on a mission.

Now with the advent of the 6th generation, I'm wondering how I can toss in some references to the 6th gen...? Maybe a few potshots here and there, but also things that are actually plot relevant.

So far I'm thinking:

* Pancham vs. Spinda. Spinda runs a cafe, and a Pancham is one of her regulars (and loves to harass Spinda over the quality of her drinks).
* Mega Lucario. I'm already trying to plan in a scene where the MC meets a renowned Lucario sage (who instantly notices how the MC is no ordinary Riolu), and I'm thinking of replacing it with a Mega Lucario.
* Mega Absol. One of the Federation's founders was an Absol, and when the flow of time really starts to crack, the main characters happen to cross paths with him. Now I'm thinking he's absolutely got to be a Mega Absol, something that makes him a legend in the setting's history.
* A door guard at the Wigglytuff Guild is a Noctowl named Fletch. His name is no relation to Fletchling, but I am thinking he should have a mate (or at least love interest) in a Talonflame.

But that's me, and a lot of those are yet a long way off from the last chapter I posted (I will get back to it sometime, I promise that).

What about you? Have you changed plans in an ongoing fanfiction due to the start of a new game generation?

 

[Lugion]

I generally just stick to the generation I started in, or else I'd be making so many changes, I'd never finish a story.

Of course, I like to throw in a few winks and nudges every now and then.

 

[Tophat Dragoneye]

Pretty much what Lugion said. But Mega Evolution is certainly going to affect future fanfics, that's for certain.

 

[LightningTopaz]

This is going to spoil an upcoming episode of "Pokemon: The Song of Jewels", so I'll put the spoilery part in spoiler tags.

Mega Evolution is triggered by spellsong in the story, and so as Tenku tries (and fails) to battle Team Elegy (who abducted a Lucario in hopes of luring Brock and Wendy out)

Spoiler

Brock induces Mega evolution for the Lucario so he can save Tenku in return for her rescuing him

 

[CrystaI]

The Mega Evolution introduced in this new generation is certainly one very great plot device in the fanfic category. But I doubt on using it within my current fanfic.

Mine was started somewhere at the time where GenV BW was out for not long, so I decided to included everything up to GenV. When B2W2 is out, some Pokemon get new attacks in their move pools as well, so I also implanted such change into the Pokemon characters in my fic.

And now, with the current GenVI XY, not only new moves will be introduced to old Pokemons, but also new abilities, new types, new normal evolution (if any), and the most importantly new Mega Evolution. They are all interesting things to be included in the fic, but if I have to retcon my fic with all of these new features, all of my originally planned plot will rather be ruined, and also the retcon work is just too much. So not, I'm not tending to use it in my current fic, not even up to the final chapter. Though the completion of final chapter maybe somewhere several years later, and during that time GF probably already introducing GenVII Pokemon...

Although I'm not intending to include any of the GenVI new features, but I did fantasized on how the plot will change if I ever included the new features. It might be more interesting, especially right at the finale decisive battle in the final chapter, triggering the Mega Evolution is certainly a good strategic way to reverse the situation. The finale of my fic is one enormous battle against Arceus. Just imagining almost losing, but overtake the situation with the miraculous Mega Evolution...... (Sorry I go on daydreaming again) But still no. It will just ruin my originally planned plot. My fic thus will have a generation cleavage, everything introduced in XY and anything later on will not be included. But I doubt my determination will still be so firm after a year later or so, especially because at the current stage we are not yet fully acquaint with anything of GenVI. My decision might change eventually when the time I acquaint myself with GenVI.

 

[Stratelier]

I may have a useful way to work Xerneas and Yveltal into my story.

Xerneas can get a role similar to the Voice of Life from Gates to Infinity. (Xerneas is the "Life Pokemon", after all.)

Yveltal . . . well, in the future where time has crashed, Dialga isn't the only one who lost control of his powers and went Primal. In fact, I'm thinking that nobody in the future refers to Yveltal by his proper name, not even as Primal Yveltal, instead only referring to him via an epithetic nickname based on his affinity for destruction.

Undoubtably, my main characters are now most likely going to cross paths with future Yveltal at some point, and that encounter will have lasting consequences.

 

[Stratelier]

I am now considering adding the Pyroar species to my story at some point: Consider how in the Amp Plains of PMD there was the Luxray tribe (in Darkness/Time) and Manectric tribe (in Sky). In my setting, the two tribes are like Hatfields and McCoys and have some fierce territorial rivalries (the rivalry only increased by them both being Electrics). Now add in a third tribe somewhere/somehow and the territorial disputes may get . . . complicated....