celestial-kyukon

[celestial-kyukon]

Carmine and her mother

Inspired by a blurry in-game photo in Pokémon Scarlet/Violet.

I imagined what it might look like if it were clearer—this is my interpretation. ✍️

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 5 Trivia

I want each chapter’s Trivia to not just cover lore or behind-the-scenes details, but also my personal thoughts and interpretations.

Here's what stood out to me in this chapter:

● What do you think of Ursaluna Bloodmoon Beast? To be honest, I wish the games had given it a richer backstory. There's a theory I personally find very believable: that this particular Ursaluna died in Kitakami, but was brought back to life thanks to the Terastal energy that flows through the land and water.

If you look closely, it really does resemble some kind of zombie. In fact, the Terastal phenomenon in Kitakami often seems tied to life and death. Think about the description of the Crystal Pool, or the Teal Mask’s ability to revive plants. And those crystals? They're Tera crystals. It all connects in a pretty eerie way.

● The mystery of Carmine and Kieran’s parents It’s actually really sad when you stop to think about how Carmine and Kieran never mention their parents. They never appear, and the only confirmed info is that both siblings were born in Kitakami and now live there with their grandparents.

There’s nothing official, but many fans believe their parents may have passed away. The only possible hint we get is in Carmine’s dorm room, where there are some blurry photos that seem to show her with a woman—who could be her mother. But you can’t interact with them, so it’s not clear if they’re meaningful or just background decor.Whether their parents are dead, away for work, or simply absent for some other reason, the silence around them makes their absence feel even heavier.

● A note on writing choices In the first draft of this chapter, Ursaluna's attack was more graphic. But I’m still learning how to handle intense scenes like that, and I don’t really enjoy writing overly violent content.

It also didn’t make much narrative sense—Lilac being badly injured only to recover instantly thanks to "Plot Armor" felt lazy. While this fanfic will have darker moments, I plan to keep things non-explicit and grounded in internal story logic as much as possible.

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 5 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!

Ursaluna Bloodmoon Beast makes its terrifying appearance.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679/chapters/172255996

⚠️Content Warning⚠️: This chapter includes emotionally intense scenes involving fear, childhood trauma, and mentions of deceased family members. There are also moments of panic and peril, particularly during a confrontation with a dangerous Pokémon. While nothing is graphic or explicitly violent, please read with care if you're sensitive to these themes.

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 4 Trivia

— In the original draft of Everything Leads to Zero, this wasn’t planned as a two-in-one “Special” chapter. I only decided to combine the two during revisions, partly to ease readers into the format.

— I originally considered cutting the final scene of this chapter (no spoilers here!) because I wasn’t sure I could write it in a satisfying way, especially with an OC protagonist. But thanks to the confidence I’ve gained over time—and the support from readers and fellow writers—I decided to keep it. And I’m really glad I did! It ended up being one of the most emotionally important moments for me in this chapter.

— Perrin was introduced here not just because she fits thematically (she's a curious, observant type—perfect for a story that deals with mysteries and personal journeys), but also because I’ve always found her to be one of the more underappreciated characters in the Pokémon world. I wanted to explore what she could bring to a story like this.

— Comparing the old drafts with the revised chapters I’ve already prepped for release, I’m amazed by how much the story has grown. It’s really satisfying to see how far it’s come in just a year!

— Early on, my anxiety around writing a story with an OC protagonist held me back from fully developing certain scenes. But with time and practice, I feel so much more confident.

So if you’re just starting to write fanfiction, here are two things I’ve learned:

1. Progress is real, even if it’s slow. You may feel like you’re not improving, but trust me—what feels hard now will feel miles easier in a few months or a year. And when you see that difference, take a moment to be proud of yourself!

2. It’s okay to feel anxious—especially when writing something different. I waited a year to publish this fic because I was worried no one would want to read about an OC. But I’ve found that I’m not alone in loving OCs, and that gave me courage. I’ve also read other amazing fics in the Dipplinshipping fandom with original protagonists. Honestly, even the different ways people write Juliana feel like their own unique characters sometimes—and I think that’s beautiful.

So, writer friend: don’t be afraid to express yourself. Someone out there will appreciate your story. 💜

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 4 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!

Lilac, Kieran, and Carmine cross paths with the mysterious photographer, Perrin.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679/chapters/171649681

Author's Note: Welcome to the first “Special” chapter of Everything Leads to Zero! This is a two-in-one chapter—essentially two chapters combined into one because I felt these events were better experienced together for plot-related reasons. I don’t plan to use this format often, but when I do, it’ll be for moments that are important to the story’s progression. That said, I’ve divided the chapter into two parts so you can read it however works best for you: all at once, or with a break in between. Your comfort matters to me as a reader! If you’d like to leave feedback on this chapter format, I’d love to hear it.

[celestial-kyukon]

Even though I’ve been in the fandom for a while, I’ve only just started being active by publishing my first fanfiction. It still feels a bit embarrassing, since this is all new to me — but I really understand what you’re feeling.

I’ve always been a perfectionist, mostly because of the toxic kind of education I received, where effort didn’t matter — only results did.

I was told ad nauseam that if I couldn’t outshine others, I was worthless. That mindset messed me up in a lot of ways.

I ended up carrying so much envy, resentment, anger, and self-judgment.

It was hell.

But, like you, I grew up. And one day, I realized how unhealthy all of that really was.I love to create — that’s why I write.

Yes, compliments and encouragement from others feel amazing. But the truth is, the first person we should hear those things from… is ourselves.

I’m still struggling — with language barriers, with my dysgraphia, and with the parts of my mind still under the control of that old, distorted vision of what art "should" be.

But I keep going, because I’ve loved writing and creating since I was a kid. And I don’t want to give up on that dream.

Your fanfics have truly inspired me — not just as stories, but as works that clearly reflect the love and dedication you have. Not just for this fandom, but for writing itself.

What we love shouldn’t make us suffer. Because suffering turns into hate, and hate turns into giving up.

So please — take care of yourself first. Write what you want, at your pace. These are your creations.

And only when the artist is healthy can their art really shine.

[An Open Letter]: Reflecting on Creative Burnout

Ooh boy. This one is gonna be a little long, and it’s honestly just here for anyone who relates or just wants to listen. Nothing crazy big or earth-shattering, just some shower thoughts, if you will 💛.

I’ve talked about unhealthy relationships with writing on this blog a few different times. Mostly in the beginning – when the art of it all felt like vast, uncharted territory where any activity felt like a shiny accomplishment. I would get the occasional question from time to time: How do you keep up with writing? How do you organize things so it makes sense on paper, and not just in your head, in ways that don’t overwhelm you and inspire you? How do you find that magic to produce a oneshot or a chapter update when you feel like you just…can’t?

I often expressed a level of empathy to situations people would talk to me about, and a lot of my answers usually just boiled down to encouraging self-compassion. I’d say to ignore the word and page count. Write at your own pace. Write what you want to and not what you think is expected of you – especially when your writing is free and began because you are inherently creative and like to create. Those were and still are pretty crucial values of mine, and lemme tell ya, they have been put ✨through the ringer✨ in the past year. I’m no longer that starry-eyed, new-to-writing writer who hadn’t faced adversity and only knew the “up”, I am one that now relates to the disheartened moments because I too have inevitably felt the “down” myself. It sucks!

While I can credit a decent portion of the strain to personal affairs, I still feel that the gradual shifts I experienced with my writing process reflected a burnout I wasn’t equipped to manage. Fic updates started as something fun and enjoyable, and the dopamine rush that followed from a fandom in its peak reacting and engaging with the work felt incredible. Somewhere along the way, that joy grew a second head – one that told me writing was my responsibility  to an extent.

 It didn’t matter how busy my life got – that little voice grew and grew, and eventually festered. “People are waiting for this update”, it would say. Then, it soon became “If you don’t update this soon, no one will  care when you do, because it’ll be too late”. And after that?

“You finally have the free time you’ve been waiting for. Why aren’t you writing? Don’t you think it’s a little uncalled for to call yourself a writer if you haven’t put anything out in months?”

“Welp, if you can’t write now, you shouldn’t be active. And when you do come back – you gotta come back with a bang. Multiple chapter updates – just like you used to do. And you’re not allowed to be active until you produce something.”

It wasn’t until today, at 7:00pm after a light, 3 day weekend, that I not only recognized the impact of these high, self-imposed expectations, but truly felt and understood how rooted they were in unrealism when I thought to myself  “Well since I won’t meet my original goal, maybe I could just crank out a 15 page one shot in a few hours if I push myself hard enough. Because I really want to be involved in the fandom again, and I have to post something at this point to earn it.”

That was my epiphany moment: I realized right there that this thought process wasn’t foreign to me at this point, but really, really needed to be something I approach differently – for my sake, for my creative process, and for what comes out of it (which should not be seen as “products”). I cannot emphasize how much guilt manifested in me on any given day off, or how cyclical and endless this private pattern felt. It was a conclusion I’ve come to before over the year – and it even led to creating My Treasured Sunshine - but it I didn’t fully embrace it because I didn’t want to. I have been resistant towards naming the gravity of this burnout because that would mean I would have to confront my biggest critic – myself – and choose against appeasing her; it was easier to assume that I was simply too unmotivated or too lazy, or hadn’t quite figured out the “angle” to get my old routine back in place.

But here’s the reality: that approach has dampened a lot of the perks of why I started writing and this blog in the first place – dare I say, it’s completely gone awry. It’s performative and conditional, and it gave me no room for the same type of compassion I have preached about on this platform before. And now that I am confronting that critic – I want to do more than just look her in the eye. I want to change my relationship with her, and in doing so, I want to change my relationship with writing again.

And that’s why I’m sharing this rather than an update, and rather than just reblogging shipping stuff or Drayton’s Iconicism like usual (oh come on – you know the sacred text must be referenced lol). Because I think one of the first major steps towards that is transparency. If even one person reading this can relate and feel encouraged to be kinder to themselves as I work towards doing that too, that’s more than enough for me and makes sharing all the worthwhile.

In sum? Don’t you worry – I am going to continue writing -  I’m actually sitting on a few different ideas and working with a fun new one as I type this. But I’m going to work on rolling things out with more intention – and most particularly with how I treat myself in this process. And that will involve a lot of care and check-in with myself.

So wait. What about Sweet & Sour Dipplins?  This is a question I’ve gotten across platforms as I’ve updated this fic less and less frequently, and it would be totally fair if it’s a lingering question right now.  Here’s my honest reply: it has been very, very hard to find the “steam” for this fic. The plot has been set up for endgame, and said endgame does involve a considerable amount of action-heavy events and overarching storytelling…in a story that I conceptualize as being primarily romance. The cast feels too big, the events that need attention feel too pulled away from the dipplinshipping dynamic, and the elements I could sprinkle in have felt drawn out or are just entirely out of place (e.g., I really would love to write more silly and fluffy stuff involving these characters in this universe!!! But alas, that doesn’t make sense for Chapter 25. :D). S&S D was also my first real experience with consistent creative writing, and it’s been roughly a year and a half since I released the first chapter. That’s a lot of time. On a personal level, this time had also involved a ton of shifts, challenges, and growth edges in my life circumstances outside of content creation. I am not the same person I was a year and a half ago, and I can say the same for where my writing and writing interests are now. I’ve tried looking for ways to bring back the “old” me who was able to grind past the hurdles and post chapter update after chapter update, but that spark just isn’t there anymore. And being as stubborn as I am, it took me a long time to accept that things simply are just not the same anymore - that I am not the same anymore.

These are just some of the reasons as to why I have the goal of wrapping up this story – perhaps within three or four chapters worth. I want my writing to be genuine, and I want the conclusion to pay deep tribute to all of the support and love its received. Every time I get a comment on it from an excited – even in my hiatus – it genuinely makes my day. And it is the #1 reason why I refuse to orphan this story. So, in essence, thank you for your compassion and patience. I’m going to keep thinking about how I can wrap up this story in a way that feels right, and maybe in a way that focuses more on what I view as the heart of the story rather than the “obligatory” things that are driving me away from updating. I may try out more S&S D What If updates – and have an idea around recent suggestions – just to see if I can find a new way to connect with it again.

Oh wow, look at that. Four whole pages of straight up written material that came from the heart because there was no expectations. 😊 Haha. On that note, I’ll be watching the tags for some art (all mediums). Feel free to send along your favorite posts or fics or whatnot – I’ve missed this community and hope you’re all doing well and thriving! (AND IT'S OKAY IF YOU'RE NOT!) 💛

with love,

dipplinduo

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 3 Trivia

This might be a bit of a cliché headcanon, but I really believe the protagonists of Scarlet & Violet are from Galar—or at least lived there for a few years. There’s actually some in-game evidence to support this theory. For example, in the protagonist's bedroom, there are Pokémon stickers on the wardrobe, and two of them are from Galar. There’s also a Skwovet plushie in their room, and their mom has one at home too. Speaking of Mom—I'm not a native English speaker (so apologies if I'm off here), but I’m pretty sure the expression “cuppa” that she uses is British.

Another headcanon I have is that the protagonists enjoy photography—since every time they complete an important mission, they take a picture. At first, I actually planned for Lilac to have photography as her main hobby, but it felt a little too obvious. I wanted something that would still let her express herself. Lilac is a sensitive person and needs an outlet—so I came up with music instead. I gave her the flute as her instrument because it’s portable, but also a very symbolic one in the Pokémon world. (Think of the Azure Flute used to summon Arceus, or the flutes involved in Cosmoem’s evolution).

And finally, a headcanon about Kieran and Briar. In the game, it’s pretty clear that Carmine is something like Briar’s assistant—she travels with her and helps out with her research. But Kieran’s relationship with Briar is never fully explained. Personally, I think he doesn’t really like her. He doesn’t hate her, but he finds her a bit manipulative and insensitive. Not evil, just… not someone he trusts.

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 3 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!

The study trip activities are finally starting!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679/chapters/170838166

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 2 Trivia

Introducing Lilac's current team!

Opaline – A Shiny Alolan Ninetales with an independent demeanor.

Though she can speak human language, Opaline is not one for long conversations. She’s been with Lilac’s family for generations and was passed down to her—loyal and deeply rooted in tradition.

Primrose – Originally given to Lilac as a Sprigatito by Uva Academy when she started as a new student.

She loves being the center of attention, which often clashes with Lilac’s discomfort in crowded places. She recently evolved into a Floragato during one of Professor Dendra’s battle classes.

Mimi – This mischievous Mimikyu was discovered by Lilac one night in the school library.

Though he enjoyed scaring students, he was also terribly lonely. Lilac earned his trust by visiting him every night and helping repair his tattered costume. He enjoys pranks but remains shy around strangers.

Aria – A Baile-style Oricorio who adores dancing and performing.

She expresses herself passionately in battle with elegant moves. Aria joined Lilac after hearing her play the flute during a picnic, using the music as inspiration for her dance routines.

Miraidon – A mysterious and special Pokémon entrusted to Lilac by Professor Turo.

Its robotic form makes it hard for Lilac to read its emotions—but one thing’s clear: It really, really loves sandwiches.

Additional Members (to be updated throughout the story)

Cadence – Shortly after arriving in Kitakami, Lilac played her flute for a group of Cutiefly.

One of them, enchanted by her melody, chose to follow her on her journey. Cadence is cheerful, affectionate, and a nurturing presence in the team.

Extra Trivia

Lilac’s mother is named Amara, after the Amaranth flower. Originally from Paldea, she spent several years in Galar after marrying Lilac’s father. After his passing, Amara raised Lilac alone on the Isle of Armor, working as an assistant in Master Mustard’s dojo. Though not fond of battling, she became a skilled trainer in her own right. She eventually returned to Paldea so Lilac could attend Uva Academy, supporting them both by selling the fruits and vegetables she grows.

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 2 of Everything Leads to Zero is out now!

Opaline is starting to act strangely, just as the study trip activities are about to begin...

Author’s Note: The events of The Teal Mask take place before the Treasure Hunt starts in this story. (And someone please take Area Zero's soundtrack off the stereo!)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679/chapters/170226460#workskin

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 1 Trivia

I think this will be more of an introduction post, actually. My name is Celestial-kyukon (Kyukon for short), I'm an aspiring Fanfiction writer. Everything Leads to Zero is my first work but I'll do my best!

My Fanfiction is an AU of Pokémon Violet focused on the DLC. I've actually had this story in my head for almost a year but I never felt confident about publishing it—reading other writers' fanfics gave me the courage to do so!🙂

I decided to write for fun and also to thank these games for helping me in a difficult moment... So I really hope you enjoyed the first chapter, I'll post a new one every Saturday barring any unforeseen events.

Now for some little trivia about the chapter:

● Lilac's full name is Syringa Lilac and it's basically the name of the Lilac flower, I wanted my OC to respect the canon that has names based on plants and flowers.

● Lilac's Alolan Ninetales is actually a very special Pokémon for me. I can't tell you more to avoid spoilers but know that it is a Pokémon that has existed in my game cartridges since Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon came out and has always accompanied me on every adventure.

● Lilac's team is based on the real team I used during my Pokémon Violet run.

● I gave names to several characters that didn't have one in the games, for example the Caretaker of the Community Center is called Futoshi.

[celestial-kyukon]

Chapter 1 is out!

Lilac arrives in Kitakami and meets Carmine and Kieran for the first time. How will this AU story evolve?

Important Notice: The writer is not a native English speaker but she is doing her best!

Hey, I drew this, you know? I don't know if I'm good enough at drawing, but I felt inspired to draw Lilac and Juliana.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65847679/chapters/169612720

[celestial-kyukon]

Welcome to Kyukon’s Fanfic Den!

Welcome to Kyukon’s Fanfic Den! This is where I share behind-the-scenes notes, worldbuilding extras, and occasional ramblings about my Pokémon fic “Everything Leads to Zero”.

You’re welcome to ask questions, send reactions, or just vibe!

Community Guidelines:

Be Kind & Respectful: Please avoid offensive or harmful language. We’re all here to enjoy stories together.

No Hate Speech: This space is about positivity and creativity. Discrimination, harassment, or hateful content won’t be tolerated.

Anon is Welcome: Feel free to send anonymous asks—just keep it respectful.

Ask Anything (Within Reason): I’m happy to talk shop, share headcanons, or explain details from the fic—as long as it follows the rules above.

No Sensitive or Explicit Content: This blog is a safe space. Please don’t share anything graphic, racist, or otherwise inappropriate.

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the fic!😊