Tricks of the Love Fast started as a one-shot entry offering for Valentine's 2017, focused on the species of Nidoran (OF COURSE). The initial version of the story turned out to be much longer than what was originally planned and (as is customary for my oneshots) entire sections had to be dropped. The result was the publication of Tricks… in a oneshot format in 2017. However, work on some sections of the original story continued in 2019 allowing for a publication of a second “chapter” with a third entry in the plans, turning this story into a multichapter. By 2021 the story is seeing updates on Valentine's Day every year or two.

Starting 2024, Tricks… is being syndicated to other platforms starting with Canalave Library and Thousand Roads. A Spanish translation is set out to publish in 20252026.

There is an announcement thread on Mastodon, although it's only seen updates starting with the 2024 syndication.

Tricks… explores the longer scope of life of a mated Nidoran couple.

Here, Baluarkos is a recently evolved wild Nidorino from the La Plancha Sovereignty and he has managed to charm Inka, the female he met in Silly Human…, as she was released back into the wild.

The two are now a mated couple living on the fringes of the Sovereignty, by the eastern side and out of the reach of most of the colony. Baluarkos and Inka have to deal with a number of issues as their new litter of kittens is being taken off to the colony's communal grounds for instruction, leaving the father insecure about his role compared to the much stronger and experienced Nidorina and facing threats of a nature the colony has never experienced before.

Chapters:

• Entry 1 "Berrywinner" (2017-02)
• Entry 2.1 “Derision” (2019-02)
• Entry 3.1 “Joint Effort” (2021-02)
• Entry 3.2 “Misty Peaks” (2021-04)
• Entry 4.1 “Sinking Feeling” (2024-02)
• Entry 5.1 “Clouding Effect” (2025-02)
• Entry 5.2 “Luckier than Most” (TBA 2025)

The story takes place entirely within the confines of the La Plancha Sovereignty, in particular in the southern and south-western portion of the mesa.

Most episodes take place in a nondescript hill where some hlessiil or outcasts make their home. The area features a primary hill, with a south-facing slope where the actual dens are located, and a western, protected slope from which the feeding grounds can be reached. Further south and down from the hill, the families there have access to a water course. The general area is described in materials as the “Colony grounds” or “the Hill” depending on which side of the slope the action takes place on.

Episodes 3.2 and 4.1 (technically 4.1 and 4.2) take place within an unnamed area, a several hills north-east from the southern region of the mesa and reaching into the denser eastern boundary. The area is only described in OOU materials as the “Misty Peaks”, a reference to the Monster Hunter map of the same name.

This story functions as a sort of indirect sequel to Silly Human, Romance is for Nidoran~ and, barring for narrative time compression, takes place during years 3731 to 3734 of the Present Era, during the intensification of attacks by the Ísparus Draconic Claim.

Debuts:

• Maekrite.
• Cyanoger (uncredited).

As of 2025, the story runs on three different sites (PokéCommunity, Thousand Roads and Canalave Library), with a Bulbagarden run and a translated Fanficslandia run slated for 2026, and a CPokemon run slated for 2027 or later.

A specially edited and corrected run is planned for AO3 on Tricks…'s 10th Anniversary in 2027. The resulting version might see its changes backported to at least the PC run.

Where possible, Valentines release dates will be respected.

(italics represent potential future updates; release dates non-committal)