Surmount

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Although they travel down a long, merciless road that has overwhelmed all but the very strongest to eventually throw in the towel, they do so with unrivaled resolve and convictions. This is the story of Ash Ketchum and his beloved family of Pokemon, and how they became the greatest of all time. Cover by Atenburgh.Story Includes:

Alternate Universe

Underdog MC

Slow-burn character progression

Long running

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2023
Author: HDK

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 244
Views: 114,609

Chapters(106 total)

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(5)

StrikingEngineRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I feel like there is always a comment for this under every different review for different stories. But I truly believe this is the best written and thought out Pokemon fanfic on this platform. The character development is easily top tier and it is rewarding to see Ash go from being a meek character to someone who is actually worth being a Pokemon master. Another thing I like are the Pokemon choices for what Ash captures. Some are what you would expect, but there are also choices that really suprise me but seem super cool! I think it’s criminal how underground this fic seems and I think it needs more love. First couple of chapters are a bit slow and frustrating, but it truly pays off in spades. Give it a go!
YnochTGRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Edit: 7/10/25
Edited my review just to defend the story from a douche who decided to give the novel 1 star despite being 2 chapters in. Its downright unfair to both the story and the author. The growth and even the battles themselves in the story is top tier. One of the joys the story has is seeing a smarter more cautious Ash improve and grow to his full potential. He's a little meek but it's because of a specific reason that ties in well with the story. He visibly improves every chapter, becoming more and more like his cannon self. Imagine Ash's raw potential but he's wiser. It's still him deep down, courageous and loves pokemon, but he's more grounded. Just better overall than what the original was back in the original anime. Again, the story is on par or even way better than borne of caution, both story and mechanic wise. I recommend everyone to give this fanfic a chance.
Old review | 14/10/24
I'm honestly shocked with how good this fanfiction is. A true hidden gem that NEEDS to be discovered and enjoyed by more people. Character development, exciting battles, clear power levels, good story telling, etc. The literal best ash journey fic I've read. I honestly prefer this fic over Traveler. It's up there with Borne of Caution and Hard Enough.
stuffsearcherRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
"Surmount" by HDK is not your typical Pokemon fanfiction; it's a journey that takes you into a different universe, giving familiar characters new life and adding a thrilling layer of unpredictability to Ash Ketchum's story.
HDK's writing style is a captivating force, which allowed me to immerse myself in the Pokemon world with vivid descriptions that breathe life into every scene. The alternate universe twist adds a unique flavor, keeping you on your toes with unexpected surprises. The prose flows seamlessly, allowing you to visualize the adventure and connect with the characters without much effort.
The grammar is spot-on, ensuring a smooth reading experience. Correct punctuation, syntax, and spelling show the author's dedication to delivering a polished work. All in all, it allows you to focus entirely on the great unfolding story without any distractions.
It shines with its compelling and well-paced storyline. The underdog MC trope adds depth to Ash Ketchum's character, offering the author's fresh perspective on his journey to Pokemon mastery. The first chapter promises an epic adventure rather than a typical Pokemon journey.
Each moment feels like a sneak peek into a treasure trove of potential development, promising an unfolding saga of growth and self-discovery. The slow-burn approach is a rollercoaster of anticipation, making every sentence a step towards unveiling the next layer of the characters.
I would say the story is a must-read for Pokemon fans craving a fresh take on Ash's journey.
Cloudfluffer3000Royal Road
★★★★★ 4.5
This is probably the first time I have left a review on this site and it's very deserving of it being a amazing story that did not start getting plain feeling in the middle of the story absolutely amazing, only reason it didn't get a 5/5 is that some parts felt a little longer than what was needed, still amazing though. The style of it all was well done with very little flaws that are bad with many things keeping it entertaining. The grammar was amazing and clean with very little mistakes and none of them being major deal-breaking mistakes. The characters were detailed well drawn out and made them all very relatable or understandable to a degree that varies. The story overall was amazing.
AlphadragonRoyal Road
★ 1.0
What was the start about?, you took ash a character with never give up energy and made him a hell of a door mat,he doesn't fight,he doesn't talk he just nods and cries and moves on don't know from where you even got this concept but it just put off the whole story for me, then there is the exposition, the exposition in no ways help ash as a character or the story move forward it is just for the sake of it,half a chapter to let know there is an indigo league and ash participates in it wow that is an absolute disappointment. The thing about Ash participation is he gets a pichu which is a baby pokemon, means not generally used for battle, the second stage is given in case of the raichu line for battle for a very good reason. This was such a major disappointment read and within the first chapter too