One of the most popular characters in Pokemon hot springs fanfiction is Pikachu. Its popularity is mainly due to its cuteness and its central role in the Pokemon franchise. Fans enjoy imagining Pikachu splashing around in the hot springs or getting into little mischiefs. Another popular character is Bulbasaur. It has a gentle and friendly nature, which makes it a great fit for the laid - back atmosphere of a hot springs. In fanfictions, we might see Bulbasaur sharing a spot in the hot springs with other Grass - type Pokemon and having a peaceful time. And let's not forget about Brock. He's a knowledgeable character, and in hot springs fanfiction, he could be the one explaining the properties of the hot springs to the other characters or sharing some interesting facts about the Pokemon that are relaxing there.
Lucy and Cynthia are the stars, no doubt. However, in some fanfictions, the antagonists can also be popular. These are the characters who oppose Lucy and Cynthia, whether they are evil trainers trying to take over the Pokemon world or mysterious forces causing chaos. Their complex motives and powerful Pokemon make them interesting. And of course, any Pokemon that has a special role, like a legendary Pokemon that Lucy and Cynthia have to protect or a Pokemon with a unique ability that helps them in their journey, can be very popular among readers.
There are also original characters created by fans. These characters are often designed to have a unique backstory that ties them to Legendary Pokemon. For example, a character who was orphaned by a battle between two Legendary Pokemon and now has a vendetta against one of them, or a character who has a prophetic dream about a Legendary Pokemon and goes on a journey to find it.
Ash is obviously one of the most popular characters. He's the main character of the Pokemon anime, and in fanfictions, his adventures with or against Team Rocket are always interesting. People like to see how he reacts to different situations that Team Rocket creates or how he manages to outwit them.
Arceus is quite popular. Given that it's considered the creator of the Pokemon universe in the official lore, it often has a significant role in fanfictions. Mewtwo is also very common. Its powerful psychic abilities and complex backstory make it a favorite for fanfic writers to explore. Another popular one is Lugia. With its majestic appearance and its connection to the sea, it's often a central figure in many stories.
Maxie from Team Magma is often a popular choice. His strong leadership and his extreme beliefs about expanding the land for Pokemon make him an interesting character to explore. Writers can delve into his motives and what led him to such radical ideas.
Gary is another character that stands out. He might be the rival who is always one step behind Ash in terms of popularity but is constantly trying to up his game. He could be part of the advanced Pokemon training class and is known for his vast knowledge of different Pokemon species.
Squirtle is very popular. Since it has water - based abilities, it can easily be related to the ink - based battles in Splatoon. It could be a key character in a story where Pokemon and Splatoon characters team up for a water - ink related mission. Also, the main Inkling characters from Splatoon, like Agent 3 or Agent 4, are popular as they are the main representatives of the Splatoon world. They can be shown as having adventures in the Pokemon world, learning about Pokemon training and sharing their ink - fighting techniques with the trainers there.
The player character themselves are often very popular. Since every player can customize their trainer in the game, it gives a lot of room for creativity in fanfiction.
Pikachu is often very popular. Its cute appearance and electric - based abilities can be used in many humorous situations. Also, Team Rocket's Jessie, James and Meowth are popular as they are always getting into comical scrapes while trying to steal Pokemon.
Some original characters created by fanfiction writers can also gain popularity. For example, a young trainer who starts their journey in the Pokemon Red world with a big dream but has to face many difficulties. Their growth and development throughout the story can attract a lot of readers.