Plotbunny fic! This actually spawned in physics class during a boring video while I was high on Watermelon gummies…

When Ash falls into a mirrorverse and finds himself an alchemist mage, it seems a great deal at first. However, he soon realizes that duty is not all fun and games, when sacrifice is involved.

Disclaimer: I don’t own pokemon. It belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics, ok?

This is non-copyright infringing fanwork, I own what I write, and no profit is being made, so there.

Notes: <> for telepathy, ** for thoughts, italics for pokemon talking

Warnings: Alternate Universe… Randomness (since I picked all the powers with my calculator to eliminate bias)

Some city/town names in Kanto will be changed since it is AU. Characters too.

Four magic types: Electric, Bug, Flying, Grass

Chapter 1: Temporal Vortex: Whirlpool

It really wasn’t that strange.

Well, Ash Ketchum was not exactly the normal pokemon trainer. Normal trainers were not stalked by Team Rocket day and night, did not run into legendary pokémon and be forced to save the world, and most assuredly did not drop through the ground and land in other places.

But considering sheer amount of the queer other happenings… it wasn’t that bad.

Ash brushed himself off, noticing that while Pikachu was still with him, his other pokeballs had mysterious vanished, while his clothes had changed into a dark yellow robe with black and red bands on the sleeves. Underneath, a tunic and pants of white tucked into black boots. Curious.

Pikachu chattered as she jumped down from his shoulder and looked around, balancing carefully.

This is not home…

“I knew that, Pikachu.” Ash said. “The question is, where are we, and why am I dressed like this?”

He tugged at the clothing, but it was made out of durable material and would not give. On second inspection, he discovered to his shock that his backpack had been left behind in the other area. In any case, going around naked was definitely not an option, so he sighed and decided to make do.

Pikachu climbed back onto his shoulder after a few other peeks in the four directions.

We are surely not home.

“Then let’s go ask someone where we are.” Ash said, before they started walking.

Elsewhere…

Leonard Marcus, Grass alchemist-mage of the first order and official leader of the Confederation, swore.

That strange energy signal had completely disrupted the complex transmutation he had been attempting.

Bits of feather flew around, the subjects having imploded among themselves. Cursing under his breath, the man began to eradicate all evidence of his work.

He was not fast enough.

The clicking of boots sounded down the hall as the other two alchemists entered. A frown was fixated on the face of the younger of the two, as his crimson-edged wings settled themselves down. The second looked morbidly shocked, before disapproval descended on that physiognomy.

Neither expression could be termed a pleasant one.
“So,” The woman spoke, barely louder than the hum of honeybees. “You were restarting your experiments in new life transmutation.”

He denied it. Waved his hands in the air, gesticulated… even tried to place the blame on the still-silent third, who barely turned golden eyes towards him.

“This is the second time the contract has been breached.” It was whispery, that tone which nonetheless carried a threat. “A third time strips you of your status and magic. Risking so much for so little, is that wise?”

“As if you would care, birdbrain.”

Lance raised his eyebrows, relatively unfazed by the insult. “You took my trained parakeet for that experiment. His blood cries out for vengeance. And so, as alchemist-mage of the flying types…”

His expression shifted as feathers moved to cover his arms in sharp, bladed sections, stance ready to attack.

“Now, now, don’t be so hasty.” Jasmine placated, moving over to stand by Leonard. “He-.”

“He used my pet for his experiment.” Lance snapped. “Wild birds I might tolerate… and did he succeed? Of course not… So it was life wasted for nothing.”

Jasmine shook her head, brown hair flying. “Well, killing him would not solve anything.”

“Fine.” There was no surrender though, as Lance stalked back out of the room. “I’ll go check out that disturbance.”

Leonard scowled as he picked up a mop and began trying to erase the stains of alchemy. Jasmine shook her head. “You know that won’t work.”

“What is with him? It’s like there’s a proverbial stick up his-.”

“Shh!” Jasmine said, knowing birds had rather sharp hearing. “You know he hasn’t quite been himself since Red vanished four months ago.”

“Good riddance, I say. That kid was too cocky for his own good.”

“Maybe, but we both saw the talent he had.”

Leonard harrumphed. “I was trying to revive him.”

“WHAT?!”

Jasmine threw the dustpan at him. “You idiot! Human transmutation is even riskier than chimeras and the new life transmutation! What were you thinking?! At the very least, you’d have to make the appropriate sacrifices-!”

“I did.” Leonard scowled. “Sixteen birds.”

“So what went wrong? Did you mess up drawing the magic circle?”

“Hardly. In mid-process, a new strong magic invaded this area and threw my concentration off, breaking the spell.”

“… I see…” Jasmine picked up the broom and threw it at Leonard as well. “Well, don’t be so careless!”

“Careless? I put level ten wards up!”

“… Level ten… and the highest is fifteen, but none of us are at that level yet…”

“Exactly.” Leonard retorted. “I can’t explain freak accidents!”

“If you’re trying to make peace, this is still a poor way.”

“I don’t want peace! A truce would be fine.”

“That’s the same thing, dear.” Jasmine said, before she left him alone with the rubbish all around.

“Hey! You could at least help me clean up!”

He landed, wings folding back down as he formed a ball of white light in his hands and chanted the words to the spell.

Sure enough, the ball of light drifted in one direction, and he followed it without question. Well, if it was an enemy mage from the kingdom of Johto, he could kill, but Johto only had two to his knowledge, steel-type and fighting-type, neither very skilled. No, this was new-yet-familiar magic tugging at him.

He stepped out of the weave, invisibility threads disappearing as he took down the primary spying defense, to see whom it was he found.

Startled amber met gold as Lance involuntarily stepped back.

End Chapter

Oh yes! Is this a cliffhanger or what? ^-^

Started 2/3/04, completed 3/17/04