Following the demonstration by the Elite Guard,
the crowd had dispersed, and the developing magi decided that it was about
time that they too started to practice their art and maybe choose a path.
“It is vital” Saliaven was saying to them before they officially began
“to choose a path that is useful and that is compatible with the way you
practice. Right now, you’re just studying spells generally, and looking
over the basics. A simple magician can use basic spells from all
the fields, but it takes a real mage to know what they can go on with.
Some of you may even take multiple paths, but we shall see yet how things
go.”
And so they entered the massive library, infinite
in proportion and the keeper of every spell and magic that had ever been
practiced in that realm. There was a list at the front, listing all
the disciplines and where to find information on them. There were
the most general categories on top, like Psionics and Divinity (holy magic
of the gods, separated from divination which is a lot less useful), with
the specialized branches, like ley guiding, beneath.
Ash skimmed the list “Enchanter, imbuing inanimate objects with magical
properties. Cool, I always wanted to have a magic sword.”
Misty was looking down it too “Anthromorphics, changing
one thing into another, sounds like a good one for you, Duplica.
As for me, I think I’ll look at Gaien Energy Transferences, channeling
the free energy of nature.”
Ash was interested “Why choose that instead of elementalism.
I was willing to bet money you’d pick that so you could control water and
its inhabitants.”
“This isn’t path choosing, I just found it interesting is all.
And I hasten to point out, oh ye of the amazing perception, that enchantasy
is hardly something expected of you. I’d look more to fire elementalism,
unfocused pure power.”
“How do we actually find the books we want?” As if hearing him,
a sign appeared stating that each room has a table where portals will open
to the sections and then back to the table they started from.
They proceeded to find books on the subjects they
chose, as the others filtered off in the search for their own (it should
be noted that Gary, taking the idea from his pokemon form, was studying
divinity). When Ash and Misty had finally found among the multitude,
what they were looking for, they sat at a large wooden table to look at
what they had chosen as their first books. “Household enchantments
to keep things together. Sounds like a self-help book.”
“What’d you find? How to build a better spirit bomb. Interesting.”
They bent over and all was silent until
Duplica, having looked up from her book with a demented gleam in her eye,
tiptoed up behind them with exaggerated care and began to whisper and make
gestures. When she stopped, a large Arcanine tail made its way out
of Ash’s pants and a Persian tail did the same from Misty’s. Duplica
couldn’t hold herself in any more and doubled over in mirth. When
the two observed what was causing her this fit, Ash threw something at
her shoes and she began to dance uncontrollably. Misty, taking her
initiative, held her hand up and took a small percentage of power from
every person in the library, hurling it at Duplica, causing her to fall
over. Now it was their turn to laugh at Duplica, on her back with
her legs flailing as they tried to dance. When he regained his composure,
Ash mimed a yank, and Duplica’s legs stopped their movements. She
got up, thoroughly out of breath, but still grinning broadly. “If
that’s what you throw at friends, I’d hate to cross you two in battle.”
Misty grinned also and said, “At least we now know that we can
channel power from living and inanimate subjects. But if you don’t
mind, I’d like to be fully human again.”
Duplica mocked sadness “But I was just starting
to like your new look.” She snapped and the tails receded. They went to
sit down, but before they could do any more studying, the doors slammed
open and a young boy entered. “They told me that I could find that
Pallet and Viridian gym leader here.”
Ash and Misty stepped up “We are the leaders of Pallet. Viridian
is elsewhere in this building”
The boy looked them over “You owe me a gym battle, and there are others
who want one too. You haven’t been to your gyms in awhile.”
Ash looked sheepish “I’d forgotten.”
“Well, you need to battle me now.”
“As you wish it.”
Ash won handily, but it gave him cause to remember
that he had a life outside of the city. He wondered how he was supposed
to do both his job as gym leader and study to be a mage. It wasn’t
until Misty, out of breath, caught up to him that he realized that he had
wandered into the courtyard. “What are you doing?” she asked angrily “You
just wandered off, it’s taken me half an hour to track you down.”
“I was thinking that maybe its time that we went back to the gym.
We have a responsibility to the league.”
Vapor, on passing, said, “You should have said something, the city
was built by people who planned for everything. Come with me.”
She led them to the quarters of their two families. She pulled out
a spell book and gave it to them. “This should help, and I would
be glad if you gave it to the other trainers when you’re done.” They
agreed and she left them.
“What is it?” Ash asked eagerly.
Misty opened the book, revealing a real time, full
detail map of the regions. On it was every building extant on the
supercontinent. On the opposite page were instructions on how to
put dimension doors from one building to another and teleporting buildings,
leaving a gate. They moved their house and gym, putting it on top
of the family quarters, then made a d-door from the main gate, left behind,
to the gym. They then went in and put a door from the quarters to
their house. Duplica, who had once again snuck up behind them, whistled
and said, “can I borrow that one.” They gave it to Duplica and told
her to let the others have their time moving house.
Authors note: Wouldn’t it be nice if we all made a donation and bought
the rights to pokemon? Yeah, fat chance.