Summary: Plotbunny fic. Ash is sent to another dimension by a freak teleportation accident, a world in which Team Rocket controls all…

This story was inspired by Oddish’s fic ‘The Quantum Split’. I am not trying to copy him. He is a much better writer than I am.

Disclaimer: Pokemon not mine, new pokes, characters, attacks are, etc.

Timeline: Mid-Kanto, before pokemon league

Prologue: The beginning

“To protect the world from devastation!”

“To unite all peoples within our nation!”

“To denounce the evils of truth and love!”

“To extend our reach to the stars above!”

“Jessie!”

“James!”

“Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!”

“Surrender now or prepare to fight!”

“Meowth, that’s right!”

“Never!” Ash said, jumping in front of pikachu protectively. “Go!” Charizard, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pidgeotto began battling ferociously with Arbok, Weezing, and the trump card, Arcanine. Charizard just slept while Pidgeotto was gaining the upper hand against Arbok. Squirtle was protecting Bulbasaur from Arcanine by keeping it at bay with Water Gun attacks, while Bulbasaur had managed to land a Stun Spore on Weezing (and James) so they couldn’t attack.

Soon, Arcanine and Arbok dropped down, fainted.

“All right then, you asked for it!” Jessie said. Misty and Brock’s eyes widened as she pulled out a silvery snub-nosed gun and fired.

Pikachu reacted as it would in any situation, with a Thunder attack. When the dust cleared, the pokemon, Jessie and James were fried, but Ash and Pikachu were nowhere to be seen…

Ash opened his eyes slowly, his head feeling as though a Snorlax had sat upon it. “Ow…” He looked around, he seemed to be in the same place as he had been before. But he was staring into a pair of amber eyes. A pair of very familiar eyes he had seen before…

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‘Wherever this shadowed path might lead, we were both irrevocably committed to follow it to the end’ (Erik, Phantom)

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“But you’re me!” Ash said.

The seventeen year old boy, known as Red to his friends, simply stared at the ten-year old kid he had found lying unconscious. “You must have hit your head harder than I thought. I may look a little bit like you, but….”

Ash continued gaping.

Where he had worn his battered league cap, league vest, jeans, and black t-shirt, this older version of himself was dressed in a black bodysuit and dark blue cloak. And where he had only had six poke balls (five, because Pikachu wouldn’t stay in one), this had a full twelve, strapped to two blue-and-red streaked belts. His older self was almost painfully thin, and he seemed to have a weary, hunted look. But the most shocking part of all were the flecks of red in those amber eyes…

“But you’re Ash Ketchum!”

“No,” The boy said, shaking his head. “The first name is right, Red is just a nickname, but my last name isn’t Ketchum. Its Dragyn.”

This stopped Ash cold. “As in Lance Dragyn?”
“You knew my father?” The boy asked. Red narrowed his eyes. “Hardly anyone did.”

“No, I’ve just…heard of him. He’s a great pokemon trainer.”

“Was.” Red corrected.

“Was?”

“Didn’t you know? Team Rocket got him two years ago.” Red said. “Are you sure you’re all right? Your pokemon looks like it’s taken a beating.”

Ash looked at the unconscious pikachu. “Pikachu!”

“Its fine, just needs a little rejuvenation at a Center.” Red said.

“Well, that’s solved easily enough.” Ash said. He pulled out his pokédex. “Dexter, where is the closest pokemon center?”

*BEEPBEEPBEEP* Malfunction’ flashed on the screen of the pokédex.

“Oh no!” Ash said. “What’s wrong?”

Red took the pokédex from him and checked. “Looks like you’re missing a signal. You’re not getting any response from your pokédex transmission location.”

“You mean Professor Oak’s lab?”

“His lab? Its been gone for almost a year.” Red looked at Ash critically. “You ought to check your pokédex for problems more often.”

“B-but four days ago it was fine!”

Red shook his head. “Something is wrong here. You think I’m you and that Professor Oak’s lab is still there. The next thing I hear is that the gyms are still open and the League Tournament is going on.”

“It’s not?”

“No, dummy.” Red said. “It’s been gone since most of the gym leaders were killed last year. I was Champion for five years, and I was looking forwards to holding onto my position. But now Team Rocket is after me and my pokemon.”

“Oh…” Ash said.

“Here, why don’t I lead you to the pokemon center, and you can tell me more about this ‘reality’ of yours.” Red said after a few seconds of contemplation.

“It’s a long story.”

“Well, it’s a pretty long walk.” Red said as they walked towards the center.

“Well, here goes. I was late getting my first pokemon from Oak…”

End Prologue

Started 5/23/03, completed 6/3/03