Chapter 5 ˜ The return of an old enemy
''Shht shhht, Dawson not so loud.'' Hissed Lugia.
They realized that they were still right besides Basil's room.
''We'd better continue in the living room, don't you think?'' Whispered Dawson.
Lugia agrees.
After walking to the living room, Dawson asked his question again.
''So, tell me, what are the Lugia… ehm.''
''Defenders... Yes, your question brings me back to an old tale of my species, from far before I was born.
It may not look like it anymore, but in that time humans and Lugia's lived together in harmony.''
''Really? I would never have guessed that.'' Dawson answered surprised.
''Yes, but that all changed… One moment ruined everything. A Lugia accidentally killed a human with it's powers. They began to see the monsters inside us. They…they didn't trust us anymore. Drove us away with sticks and captured us in cages. We were so used to not using our power to defend ourselves, that even when we were captured, we didn't want to fight back.
I've always had the same feeling that they had back then. Not wanted to hurt someone. Doing so had cost me much. I lost my tail fin, got my ear ripped open and all these scars hiding under my feathers, all of that, because I didn't want to fight back. But I also had another reason, humans only can see the monsters inside of us, we shouldn't have to act like that. They will someday see that they were wrong, but that will still take a long time. That is where the Lugia defenders come in to place. The legend said that 5 special living beings would be born. They appear all as just ordinary living beings, but they all have a special connection with one special Lugia, even before they meet him. We already found out that I was the one who they were talking about. I was quickly pointed out for this long quest. I need to find them all. Only then can we finally bring back peace between humans and Lugia's.
Dawson was a bit speechless after hearing this. ''You..you really have a big responsibility fellow.''
''I indeed have Dawson. And I take it all very serious because my actions will have impact on my whole species. I already found 3 of them and if I am right, then is Basil the 4th one. It may sound crazy because he is a mouse, but my observations were never wrong before.
That reminded me of a question for you. Did something happened to Basil about 3 years ago?''
''I don't know chap, I've only known him for a few days.''
''Hmm okay, how about 4 days ago? Did something happens to him then? Besides not getting much sleep of course.''
''Strange that you ask for exactly 4 days ago boy, because he really got beat up by his foe, on the clock arm of the Big Ben.''
''Big Ben!? That is were I got the signals from!''
''Signals?'' Dawson asked confused.
''Yes, I always get signals when one of the Lugia defenders gets hurt, that is part of that special connection I was talking about. I feel the same pain as they, with the help of that, I can find them.''
''That is really clever.''
''It is. I got them 3 years ago too, that is what lead me to London.''
''And you were staying here for those 3 years? All on your own?''
''Yes I did, but I am not really alone. I got my good friend Shade by my side most of the times. He is a Lugia too.''
''Oh, You chaps are good at hiding then. Since no one has captured you yet.''
''Yes, but we surely are not invisible. Of course people have seen us a few times. They even set traps for us down in the sewers, because for some reason they think that we are hiding down there, haha. But we still need to be on our guards for their guns. When those things were invented our species had even more trouble to survive outside our hiding places.''
''Don't be concerned, but Basil has one of his own.''
''What!?'' Lugia said worried.
''No need to worry about that little chap, he only uses it for his experiments as far as I know.''
''Oof, what a relief. But if Basil really got beat up 4 days ago, then I might not even need to know what happened 3 years ago. By the way, do you perhaps have a hair from Basil that I can borrow?''
''I don't think so. Why would you need that?''
''I have to do a DNA test to be completely sure that he really is the next Lugia defender.''
''DNA, I heard about that before, but we are not so far yet that we can work with it.''
''We already can. With it you can see if you are related to someone, if that is the case then is the DNA from both of us is almost the same. It is in everything: blood, feathers, spit and even in hairs, but I have to wait until Basil wakes up then.''
''Dawson yawns. Talking about sleep, it might be a good idea for you to get some rest as well, that wing won't heals if you don't give it some rest.''
''Lugia sighs and yawns as well. You are right Dawson, I talk too much.''
Lugia walked in circles on the carpet and lied down next to the fire.
''Good night Dawson.'' Said a smiling Lugia.
''Hehe, good night Lugia.''
The next morning Lugia got up early. He wanted to start working on his research as fast as possible.
Dawson was roughly awakened thanks to the sound of some glass bottles, who Lugia accidentally knocked over.
''Wha…what?...Lugia? What are you doing!''
''Oh, good morning Dawson.
''Ohh, Lugia I was supposed to keep an eye on you and I just fell asleep. Basil will not be happy that you are moving things around on his alchemy table.
''Yes I know, I just don't want to confuse his stuff with mine.''
''And little fellow is it just me, or are your blue fins much lighter than before.''
''Hm? Oh stupid, stupid, stupid, how could I forget that I was so hungry.''
Lugia walked to the corner of the room and picked his bag from under a few loose planks. He grabbed a few berries out of it.
''I don't think that those berries alone are going to stop your hunger. I can get something for you to eat.''
As Lugia ate a few of them his fins turned back to the dark blue color it originally was. Dawson got a bit surprised.
''These are not for taking care of my hunger Dawson. If I use too much of my energy I need these Oran berries to recover it.''
Lugia shows one of the berries to Dawson.
''I have never seen those berries before.''
''That's because they only grow in places where my species live, but anyways I do love to get something to eat. If it's not too much to ask.''
''Only if it's anything but mice!''
''What! No, no Dawson I already told you that I don't eat mice.''
All of a sudden Mrs. Judson came walking from the kitchen, bringing the morning tea.
She almost got a heart attack when she saw Lugia. The plate with tea fell out of her hands.
Lugia saw her just in time, with a quick reaction he held the plate and the teacups in the air with Psychic.
''Mrs. Judson! No need to panic. Lugia is not dangerous.'' Dawson said while trying to calm her down.
Lugia slowly placed the plate with teacups back in her hands, looking at her with a sweet smile.
''Dawson, I know I told you that you can stay here, but will you please tell me next time you are bringing creatures inside my home?''
''Yes I will, but this was not my fault! Basil brought him here. Lugia's wing has to heal, that's all.''
''That is fine by me, if he is no trouble maker at least, I already got my hands full with Basil.''
''No he is not, but Mrs. Judson? Do you have something to eat for Lugia? The poor thing has nothing eaten in days.''
''Oh my, I will see if I have something for him Dawson.''
She walked to the kitchen and came back with a plate full cheese crumpets.
''I hope that you like cheese little one.''
''I've never actually tasted cheese before but it smells good.''
Lugia picked one from the plate. Even Dawson couldn't help himself to take one to.
''Hmm they are very tasty Mrs. Judson.''
''Thank you Lugia.'' she said giving Lugia a little pat on his head.
After eating enough Lugia headed back to his research.
''Were is Basil actually?'' Mrs. Judson suddenly asked.
''Probably still sleeping.'' Dawson answered.
''That is strange, it is noting for him to sleep late like that. I usually have more headed trouble getting him into bed than getting him out of bed.''
I should have known I couldn't trust this. Dawson said when he glared to Lugia.
He walked towards the kitchen door.
''Dawson! Wait!'' Lugia shouted behind him.
When Dawson opened the kitchen door, he bumped into Basil.
''Oof! Dawson!? What was that for old chap?''
''Basil! I am so glad you are alright.''
''Yes. Why wouldn't I be?''
''Well ehm...you see…Lugia…''
''Good morning Basil. Did you sleep well?'' Lugia said all of a sudden without looking away from his work.
''Lugia! Did you do something to me?!''
''The only thing I did was freeing you from your nightmares, that's all.'' Lugia said while looking at Basil with a smile.
''Mr. Basil! Nightmares! So that is why you are not sleeping well lately. If you have them then you need to talk about it.'' Said Mrs. Judson worried.
''Yes, yes it is quite alright. I will make sure Lugia won't eat everything from your kitchen, alright? Basil said to Mrs. Judson when he lead her back to the kitchen.
''He is just staying here for a few days.'' He said with a smile, pushing her back the kitchen in.
''Yes, but, but Bas..'' Mrs. Judson could not even finish her sentence before Basil closed the door behind her.
''Well! Time to get some answers out of you chap.'' Basil said looking serious at Lugia. When he was looking towards Lugia's direction he realized that all his experiments from the table were gone.
''Lugia! What have you done with my experiments!?''
''Calm down Basil! They are over there. I even labeled them for you." Lugia said pointing with his wing and smiling proudly.
''And I must say, making a reaction to find salt in paper is very impressive.''
''Oh Lugia! Did I ever give you permission to reorganize my whole lab?'' Basil said when he placed the experiments back on the table.
''What? No I'm not reorganizing Basil, I had to experiment some things for myself. There is just one more thing I have to find out.''
Lugia quickly jumped on Basil's shoulder and pulled one of Basil's hairs out his head. Then he walked back to the table.
It happened too quickly for Basil to even get the chance to get Lugia off of him.
''Ouch! Lugia! What was that for!?''
''Oh Basil, no need to be upset. I feel the same pain as you. And you weren't going to give it to me anyways.''
''Same pain? What do you mean by that?" Basil asked, walking towards Lugia while rubbing his head.
Basil, on his turn, tried to pull one of Lugia's feathers out. But Lugia quickly blocked Basil's hand without looking up. ''I am sorry Basil, but these silver wings do more for me other than just keeping me warm.''
''Lugia! I need answers! Don't try to talk your way out of it!'' Basil said slamming his fist on the table.
Lugia squeaked a little and looked up for a moment, but then got back to his work.
Lugia sighed ''I can't give you any answers if I don't know it myself boy. That is what I have to find out first.'' Lugia grabbed a silver wing out of his bag.
''But what do you need to find out then?!''
''Sshhtt! I need to concentrate.'' Lugia hissed.
''You see, now you doing it again.''
''Basil! Please.'' Lugia growled.
Basil rolled his eyes and observes Lugia, who just placed both the hair and the silver wing under the microscope. When Lugia looked through it he realized something.
''Oh of course, your microscope can't zoom in that far.''
Lugia picked a tube and some glass lenses out of his bag. With those he easily upgraded Basil's microscope temporarily and he looked through it again.
Basil was not really happy that Lugia was experimenting with his microscope, but he just let him work.
''Ah! Now we are getting somewhere.'' Lugia said happily.
He looked through the microscope for a while. Suddenly Lugia's eyes grow wide and he almost fell backwards.
''It's true… I can't believe it.'' Lugia whispered.
''What?!'' Basil asked impatiently.
''Basil…ehm I don't know how to say this to you, but you really are the next Lugia defender.''
It stays quiet for a moment. Until Basil began to laugh.
''Haha! Lugia that's a good one boy, you really set all this up, to tell me that?''
But Basil's smile disappeared slowly when he saw Lugia looking so serious while tilling his head.
Ha, you are joking, are you fellow?
''No…I am not.'' Lugia said, dropping his ears.
Basil dropped his ears as well. In shock he slowly walked backwards until he got stopped by the wall. He put a hand on his head and breathed heavily. ''No, no, this can't be true, this must surely be a mistake.''
''Basil you have to take it easy boy.''
''No Lugia you... you have made a mistake, there is no way this is right.''
''But Basil everything I tested is right, the interest, the signal location, same pain, same nightmare even your DNA is similar to mine.''
With hands on his back Basil walked through the living room.
''Listen, I don't want to be any part of this Lugia, you'd better search for someone else to help you. Besides I am way too busy with my own job here in Mousedom and what can a little mouse as me actually do against people who kill Lugia?
''Basil it doesn't matter if you are small, that has nothing to do with it all.
''How can it be then that all Lugia defenders so far where humans?! Can you explain that?!''
''I…I still don't know, but all what really matters is that you just have to be yourself.
I didn't not even know that mice were so intelligent. Now I know! After 3 years of searching I finally realized that were I was looking for, was right beneath my feet. I...I can never forgive myself for not seeing it sooner.'' Said Lugia, feeling sad from his own words.
After walking around for a little while, Basil collapsed in his chair. He wanted to pick up his violin, but he realized that his violin was still broken. Instead he just lied on his back looking at the ceiling.
Suddenly Lugia felt a hand on his shoulder. He looks behind him. It is Dawson.
''Lugia, I think that it is just a lot to take in.'' He said with a calm voice.
Lugia dropped his ears and looks back at Basil. Who let his hand drop onto the ground. Lugia walked to him and put his hand against Basil's hand.
''It is going to be alright.'' Lugia said calm and quietly. Basil looked to him with a sad look and moved his hand back. Looking back at the ceiling again. Lugia just left him alone and walked back to Dawson.
''Lugia I saw that you are walking on all fours again, I said clearly that you can't do that for a few days.''
What? Oh ehm yes, Dawson I think that I forgot to tell you, that I actually heal very quickly, if it is under good circumstances.'' Lugia said with still a bit of sadness in his voice.
''Can I get another look at that wing then?''
''Sure you can.'' Lugia said.
As Dawson removed the bandages he was really surprised, the only thing he could find from the wounds were a few clean healed scars.
''This is so strange.'' Dawson said "This looks so much better than yesterday.''
Basil peeked over his shoulder. When he got a view of the scars his eye's grew widely.
I still can't fly, but I...
Basil suddenly grabbed his wing and looked at it with his magnifying-glass.
''Why didn't I see this sooner!?'' Basil asked himself.
''Ehm what's wrong Basil?'' Lugia asked confused.
''No! This can't be!
Lugia! How exactly did you get these claw marks?''