Disclaimer: No ownership to Pokémon
Summary: What if we could change history which Ash tried to protect Misty, May and Max from Hansen's Pokémon and got blasted away alongside Togepi?

A Mirage Prince?

Chapter 1: He Descended...

I...tried to protect my friends. We... We were forced into this place by Team Rocket. Then... there's Hansen needing... Misty's... Togepi. Brock and I... we fought to keep him... from our friends. Why? Why did I break from Brock...and Pikachu? Why did I take that Solar Beam? It seems like my mind's clearing up. That's good. I'm probably going to come around soon and be reunited with my friends. "Ugh..." I groaned. Yeah, I'm still feeling it. I awoke and felt...bandages? On my head? I knew I was hurt. How bad was I? I looked to my left. There were two women, one obviously older and...bigger than the one in blue. There, in the middle! That's Misty's Togepi! The spike ball with the eggshell as cover and the red and blue dots. The girl in blue put a band-aid in Togepi's forehead. So, Togepi was hurt too.

"There!" the girl cheered. "My very own Togepi!" Someone want to inform her that it's Misty's.

"Oh, Princess," the bigger in magenta cooed. "You're all set for the ceremony, tomorrow." A ceremony?

"I know. It's so exciting!" Togepi seemed bewildered by who was comforting it. She was in need of Misty's Togepi for a ceremony? I couldn't hold back.

"What's this about a ceremony?" I weakly asked. "And why do you need Misty's Togepi?" The princess and the larger maid turned to me. Okay, I can get down to business.

"You're up," the princess gawked. "Take it easy. Your injuries are worse than what Togepi suffered."

"Princess Sara is right," the maid acknowledged. "You're a mess when you hit the fountain." I paused to listen to them. She's a princess? She's not wearing anything too fancy. I laid back down to their understanding. "Now, are you acknowledging that this Togepi belongs to someone else?" Well, yeah. Isn't that what I just said?

"Yeah, it's actually a friend's Togepi," I tried to reason. "But, I wasn't aware that I was in the presence of a princess. I should have been wearing something a little formal." Sara chuckled at what I said, which may have been a little joke.

"Well, I believe the explosion charred your wear," she pointed out. "What happened?" I was ready to speak about the events leading up to me meeting the princess. I mean, I'm pretty sure Brock would want to try and flirt with her. But that's when someone barged in. An old and large man appeared in more royal clothing. From the dark gray beard, he's got to be at most Sara's grandpa.

"Princess Sara, is everything alright?" he asked. We all turned to the old man.

"Father, thank goodness! A Togepi fell into the royal fountain in the garden." Father? That's an old timer raising a young chick. Torchic chick, not a cute girl like Sara was. The father was astounded with Misty's Togepi.

"My stars! It is a Togepi!" Togepi still acted perplexed. "That means you can perform the ceremony without hesitation." Sara had a look that told her something wasn't right.

"Actually, I think the boy who we found near the Togepi may be correct." Finally, someone's listening...at least, I think so.

"A boy?" Yeah, me. The one with the blackish hair. The one with bandages around my head and ribs. The father looked to me, that same baffling look that Togepi had."A prince, perhaps?" What? A prince? Me? Even Sara had that gawk I had.

"F-Father!" The dad scoffed a laugh. A joke?

"Don't get so uptight, my dear daughter. Sometimes I want to enjoy a joke to ease tension." If that was a joke, I'm not sure I should be granted a share of the laugh. As if my nightmare was just starting...

"There you are!" shrilled a familiar anger. We all turned to see...my friends. There were three kids and a yellow mouse with a lightning bolt for a tail. That would be my Pikachu. Misty was the single pigtail redhead in yellow. May was the brunette in red and Max was another black-haired boy in green. Misty rushed up to the father and daughter. "Togepi!" Togepi shrilled a joyous sound like it was reunited with someone thought to have been missing. Miranda jumped in, blocking Misty from her Togepi.

"Who are you?" she demanded an answer. Now, I should step up and help Misty and the family out but I had confidence that Misty could explain herself. Boy, was I wrong.

"What? Who am I? I wanna know who you are!"

"Yeah, why don't you tell us what's going on here?" May backed Misty. It looked like this was going to get messy.

"I get it now. You're the one who wanted my Togepi, is that it?" Okay, that's it. I struggled to get out of the bed. Man, it hurts to move after getting hit with Solar Beam.

"Misty, you've got it all wrong!" I shouted with a bad groan. Everyone focused their attention to me, now. This could help.

"Ash!" Max shouted as he and Pikachu ran to my aid. Thanks, guys. "Man, you're a mess." No duh, Sherlock! You'd think I'd be in good spirits from a Solar Beam?

("Are you okay, buddy?") Pikachu questioned my torn physique. In a month, pal. In a month.

"I'll be fine," I lied. Yeah, I don't have a good poker face even if I tried. "Misty, the princess isn't Col. Hansen. Believe me." From the aid I received, Misty had a puzzled look that I was trying to buy time for Sara.

"Ash..." she murmured. "W-What do you mean?" Yeah, I need to explain. Togepi was beginning to reach out for Misty.

"It's true," Sara backed me up. "And it seems your friend is correct. I am willing to give Togepi back to you." Okay, relief...or so we thought.

"Sire!" someone shouted as he... oh no. The dark royal uniform, the gray mustache. Hansen! "I was looking for you in the throne room!" A likely story. Even Misty wasn't fooled by that lamebrain attempt to play innocent.

"You!" she snapped and pointed a finger. Hansen didn't flinch. He must deal with noisy kids everyday. Timeout...I'm a kid. Never mind.

"Your majesty, these are the intruders who've infiltrated into the kingdom." I'd call a full timeout on that. If you wanted Misty's Togepi, you've invited all of us. We're no intruders.

"Hold it right there! You're the one who forced us to come here in the first place!" Good call, Misty. When I feel better, I'll explain everything.

"You were saying something about needing a Togepi, remember?" May added. Hansen began to fumble his stature with the weight of the allegation. Only Sara, her father who I now believe is the king of this kingdom and Miranda seemed befuddled with all this finger pointing action that was happening. The King needed to know the truth.

"Hansen, is this true?" he questioned the claims. Hansen was in the corner, figuratively. All these claims against him, Togepi's and my injuries...just give up.

"Sire, are you not suggesting that I may be helping your precious daughter in locating a Togepi for tomorrow's ceremony?" he obligated. Oh, that Ekans! If I wasn't in so much pain...

"Perhaps..." the king thought loudly. "Please leave my presence." Hansen's in trouble!

"But your majesty!"

"We'll discuss this matter shortly." That's your marching orders. No choice, Hansen left the room. Okay, tension should ease. Sara handed Togepi back to Misty, who were glad to be back together. Of course, that's when I realized...I pushed myself too far in the health I was in. I fell down and out. I heard my name being called out. I was in so much pain, that was my conscious over the others. Guess I can't really explain the events leading up to my, uh, rather bad misfortune. Man, I'm in so much pain, even my thinking has been altered. I was loaded back on the bed. Man, I couldn't be in any worse pain if I tried. I was feeling a little better on the bed where I could establish hearing talks.

"How bad is Ash hurt?" May wondered. I couldn't open my eyes since the pain was cringing well.

"I would imagine that he's got a pretty bad head injury and I felt cracked ribs and bruised spine," Miranda evaluated. That's how messed up I am? Glad to be alive, huh? I'm out of action for a while.

"Miranda, thank you for helping my daughter aid the Togepi and this boy," the king praised the work of Miranda.

"If I may, I would like to keep an eye on your friend," Sara offered. Great, what did I do to get this treatment?

"O-of course," Misty replied with some concern. Lovely. I'm gonna be getting some TLC from the princess. I know I should feel appreciated but from the princess? Maybe I should take the benefit. For those still wondering how in the world I got into this mess...

"Ash, are you okay to wake up?" Misty asked. I opened my eyes to see her, Togepi and May over my head. I huffed a chuckle.

"I think I really messed things up," I groaned. Misty shook her head. What, did I do the right thing?

"Well, maybe some bone structure but at least you kept the damage on Togepi to a minimal." Not that I was trying but since Hansen was after Togepi...

"Sorry about the whole reunion. I wasn't expecting this kind of mess." May leaned over and softly slugged me in the shoulder. Okay, I earned that.

"You tease," she scoffed. "You're always doing what's right and it's not often to see you bed-ridden." Yeah, she had a point. I should play it cool though. If I make a move on Sara, I'd rather not look forward to when the king punishes me. He did seem like someone who wanted to seek all tasks completed so I shouldn't be too worried over how he handles this operation.

"You get some rest, Ash," Misty advised. "You need to recover from that attack." I will, Misty. Don't worry. Besides, I know better than to upset a princess.

"I'll bounce back soon," I responded. May and Misty bobbed nods before departing. So now I can take it easy for my wounds to mend. Hm? Is someone on my arm? I looked and Sara had fallen onto my arm, but it was a soft lie down. Sara must have been exhausted from all her doing. I didn't really need a blanket too badly so I used my remaining arm and draped the cloth over Sara's body. At least she'll be able to sleep soundly. I might get sick but I'm already in pretty good pain. Still, I wonder what this ceremony is and why she was in the need for a Togepi? Maybe I'll ask after some...(yawn)... good rest. Night...

TO BE CONTINUED...