This is my first fanfic, and my first piece of writing EVER that wasn't for school.

Also, some of the ideas used here will be recognizable from other stories.

Mostly the basic concept, though...


Chapter 1: Thinking with portals

Uh...

Hi.

...Dammit, I always have trouble finding out how to begin explaining things.

Well, first, it'd probably be best to introduce myself.

I'm Ray, short for Randal. 22, male, and currently in what could turn out to be mortal peril.

...I was right, I'm hopeless at this.

Let's just start from the beginning.

A few hours earlier...

"Are you sure this'll work? I'd prefer to not risk detatching body parts this time."

"Calm down, I've fixed it. If it fails, it will only FRY you, no exploding."

We were with my close friend, Luke, in his garage and current laboratory. Why do I say current?

Long story short, lab accidents, as it turns out, are also fatal to the lab itself.

Now, luke was pretty much your typical nerd. Blond hair, a bit scrawny, but pretty damn smart. But unlike most, he was actually breaking scientific ground...

At least that's what he told us.

Anyway, he had called us there to show us a new invention of his. It was supposed to open short-distance portals through space.

This thing is every reason for us being in his garage, so we were, naturally, a little skeptical.

"Fine, fine... But at least call it something we can SAY. I'll strangle someone if I have to memorize anything over 20 letters."

"Don't worry, bonehead, it's just called the portal device now."

The other guy is a different friend. We call him "bonehead" most of the time, despite his real name being Bowen.

He's dyed his hair red, and has it in dreadlocks constantly. He's kind of spiritual, but also a little gullible, and as most strong men are, arrogant.

I'll bet you can guess what he thinks with. Here's a hint; it's not his head.

"Where did you say this portal was supposed to open?"

"Behind the garage. We already know it works without anything in the way, I wanted to try teleporting through a wall this time.

Now, the portal will only be able to be sustained for a few seconds. Once it opens, we have to run for it, and if we don't pass through, we'll know it failed."

"Running straight through a hole ripped in the very fabric of space without questioning its safety at all. SOLID PLAN."

"It isn't good, but it's what we have."

This was shaping up to be a pretty normal experience, knowing Luke.

In a few minutes, the machine was primed and ready to drill a hole through the very thing keeping this universe from tearing us to shreds.

The roaring of the machines was deafening, but we somehow managed to hear through it.

...Eh, sort of.

"I'VE SET IT TO OPEN THE PORTAL IN 20 SECONDS!"

"WHAT?"

"I SAID, I'VE SET IT TO OPEN THE PORTAL IN 20 SECONDS! IT'S GONNA BE 10 BY NOW!"

"ALRIGHT, GOT IT!"

...

This was it. We were about to make history.

"3...

2...

1...

IT'S OPEN! GO FOR IT!"

Now that I look back on the experience, the portal looked slightly... off.

A bit darker, and slightly more... How do I say this... Tattered?

It had loose ends all over it.

Disregarding the slight change in appearance, we all jumped through at once.

Unfortunately, yet obviously, I did NOT end up behind the garage.

Instead, I wound up face-down, on the grass, in what looked like some random field.

I didn't recognize it. This was NOT good. I could recognize every single clearing within 10 miles of where I live from any angle, I had run through them so much...

I got up, completely dumbfounded as to what just happened.

It didn't feel anything like the machine normally did.

"Alright, we tried your machine. Are you satisfied now, Luke?"

No response.

"...Luke?"

No response, again.

That son of a bitch, his machine broke again.

I panicked a little, and thought about what to do, and after an intense session of self-debate, I decided to look for help.

I immediately set off in the direction of a nearby forest in hopes of survival.

After a little bit of walking, I found a small clearing, filled with...

Fairies?

Yes, fairies. Or something of the like. Small, humanoid, complete with wings and a voice of uncomfortably high pitch.

"Excuse me, but... Uh... Could you...?"

They had all stopped what they were doing, instead opting to stare at me.

It was a bit unnerving, but I managed to complete my thought, at least.

"Point me in the direction of a town, or something?.."

They were apparently not as nice as media would lead you to think.

Within seconds, I was being chased by a psychotic group of flying miniature girls shooting what appeared to be magic bullets.

Luckily, being the best sprinter on multiple track & field teams, I managed to get far ahead enough to dive behind a tree as they passed by.

By now, I had learned to completely disregard logic as I knew it.

I began to move a bit faster, this time being mindful of the locals, and eventually came upon a path, with a set of stairs in one direction and a few branches lining the other.

Uphill means a better view. Maybe, if there isn't a building at the top, I could find a town from there.

Upon reaching the top, I saw a small, Japanese-looking structure with a giant red-painted wooden arch in front of it.

"Hello? I'm a bit lost, is anyone here?"

I was greeted by a girl, wearing an oversized red bow on her head, a short dress, also red, and white detached sleeves. Those damn things still confuse me.

"What do you want?" ...She was a little rude, but you could tell she had good intent.

"...I said, I'm lost. Have you seen anyone else pass through here lately? Blond hair, about yey high, wearing jeans and a hoodie..."

Finding Luke was a priority. He wouldn't last two minutes wherever we are, but Bowen might.

"No, sorry."

"Oh... Alright."

"Hey, you aren't from around here, are you?"

"...You could say that."

"Mind telling me where you're from then?"

"...Sure. So, I was with some friends..."

He essentially retold this story with a few, minor differences. Use your imagination.

"So, here I am."

"You didn't run into anyone but a few fairies? No big fights?"

"No. Why?"

"Just asking."

The conversation was coming to a standstill.

"...Oh yeah, we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Ray. And your name?" I hold out my hand.

This gesture obviously baffled miss big-bow, so I just labeled the awkwardness as a cultural difference.

"...I'm Reimu."

Awkward silence.

"Nice to meet you."

More silence.

"...Now, you said you were opening portals, right?"

"Yeah. My friend was quite the inventor."

"Did it look any different this time? The opening?"

"Now that you mention it, it was black and purple, as opposed to orange...

Not like we had time to think about that when we were testing it."

Reimu muttered something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch, then told me that I'd better get into the shrine, because it was turning dark out.

I just hoped my friends were doing as well as me.


During the two-day waiting period for new users making stories, I tried to write another chapter.

It has yet to be more than two words long.

Also, I couldn't think of a title, so the title is what I was going to make the description.