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Language:
English
Series:
Part 3 of The Vaporeon Cycle
Stats:
Published:
2026-01-02
Updated:
2026-01-17
Words:
10,933
Chapters:
16/24
Comments:
57
Kudos:
3
Bookmarks:
1
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109

When the Smoke Clears

Summary:

Five years later, Vaporeon has settled into the life she's earned. However, when she loses more than she ever thought she'd have, it's her loved ones who have to pick up the pieces.

Notes:

Welcome back to The Vaporeon Cycle! This is a three-book series based on a story written collaboratively with a close friend of mine. All of the books are up in PDF format on my website (val-triplicate.neocities.org), but it'll take me some time to get them working in raw HTML. The first two books has been fully posted here!

NOTE: This is not the definitive version of this story! That's the one on my website - there's a lot of exclusive features like images and alternate accessibility versions that I can't easily do here, and it's much easier to update. I'll still be fixing this one whenever I find a major typo or continuity issue, though I can't promise every mistake will be fixed.

Speaking of my website, I have a very detailed content warnings document there (https://val-triplicate.neocities.org/res/doc/WSC/TVC_WhenTheSmokeClears_Warnings.pdf), but here's a summary in case you skipped over the tags:

• Overly controlling parent
• Major character death
• Death by burning
• Parental abandonment
• Discussion of parental death
• Depression, trauma, and panic attacks
• Passive suicidality
• Transphobia (mentioned)

Please let me know if you think anything ought to be added! You can contact me here, or on my tumblr (@val-triplicate). I also answer questions in-character there, it's a lot of fun! This work is my biggest passion project ever, and it would mean the world for people to let me know what they think. Thank you!

Chapter 1: WATER STONE

Chapter Text

ONE YEAR AGO

A Water Stone, a Fire Stone, a Thunder Stone. A Leaf Stone. Eevee stared at the choices, though Vaporeon knew she'd already chosen. They'd planned this well in advance. No good mother would allow such a decision unprepared.

Eevee brought her paw forward with clear anxiety. Vaporeon flashed what she intended as a calming smile, and this time it seemed to help. Eevee placed her paw on the stone, and a blinding light filled the room.

I hold my eyes shut as long as I can. I'm freaking out; everything feels so weird and wrong. Mom and Mama both call out, but not- not right now, please. I'm a little busy.

I desperately try to focus. Just shut it all out for the moment, focus on one thing at a time. My paws are so much bigger now. The ground seems damp, or maybe that's- it's my entire body. Fuck. I stumble forward and crumple to the ground. I think I might be crying, but everything is so damp...

She was panicking. Vaporeon began to panic too.

JUNIOR: I- I...
VAPOREON: Alright! Time for everyone to go.
(ESPIE: Mom, does that-)
VAPOREON: Yes. Out.

Vaporeon glanced at her daughter as the rest of their family went outside. The space was the right choice, but she stayed behind to make sure the new Vaporeon was okay. One tight hug from Mawile, then the two were alone.

Out, in, hold. Out, in, hold. Just like she taught me. I hear Mom approach, and it's all I can do not to bolt.

ME: mom?
MOM: I'm here, honey. Deep breaths.
ME: I- I'm fine. I'm fine.
MOM: I know you are, baby. Everything's okay.

My new heart slowly grinds to a normal pace. I open my eyes. The house is still the same around me, all bright blues and soft grays. Mom is still the same, that gentle smile beneath haunted eyes she won’t explain. I'm still the same. I'm still the same.