Chapter 21: Dangerous Knowledge
Kevin proceeded down the corridor, which seemed to wind deeper underground. Kevin gave up trying to guess how far he was now as he continued down the path. The only things that kept him sane at the moment were the melody and his lamp.
Yeesh, how far does this cave go? Duo-Cevan wondered.
Beats me, Kevin said, shrugging. Using the hand that was holding the lamp, Kevin increased its brightness by using a flash ability on the shell, making it absorb the light. It didn't increase the amount of light it projected, oddly enough, but instead increased the range the light was broadcasted in the tunnel.
And suddenly, Kevin stepped forward and was no longer in the tunnel.
Kevin felt very small as he entered the cavern. The light from his lamp, even with it's improved range, couldn't even reach the ceiling. In the far end of the cavern, Kevin somehow could see a waterfall as it hit another pond without any splashing. Kevin, if he took several more paces, could reach the wide pond. However, Kevin could not see Lugia in sight. Kevin suddenly realized how quiet it was.
Wait a minute, Kevin said. The melody stopped. Not just the one that was driving us insane, but the calming one, as well.
Kevin stood, looking about the cavern. He must know we're here, then, Duo-Cevan stated. Let's see if he'll greet us at all.
Kevin managed to swallow back his fear, and then took a deep breath. "Lugia!" he shouted. His shout echoed hauntingly through the cavern, eventually drowned out from the waterfall.
Nothing, Duo-Cevan said. Maybe he'll come if we say who sent us.
Who sent us? Kevin wondered, before realizing what Duo-Cevan meant.
Kevin tried again. "Lugia!" he called out. "I have come on behalf of the legends fire, water, and electricity. Reveal yourself!"
Kevin got no answer. He was about to try again when he quickly felt a pang of danger from above. What the…? Kevin thought. Kevin looked up to find a face, with a big, blazing ball of light in front of it.
Whoa!! Duo-Cevan shouted as they leapt forward out from underneath the face. As soon as they did so, the ball of light suddenly became a pillar as it shot down and blasted the area where they previously stood. It missed Kevin, but caused a shockwave affect in the air, which was enough to knock Kevin rolling into the water. His lamp was knocked farther, landing cleanly in the middle. Once again, the pond wasn't even deep enough to cover half of Kevin as he lay in it.
Kevin scrambled to get up. As he did so, he heard a 'whumph!' followed by three smaller ones. Kevin spun around quick enough to watch a giant foot catch him by the chest and shove him back in the water.
"Oomph!" Kevin grunted. "Hey, watch it!"
You will not speak unless I tell you to, imposter, a searing voice boomed in Kevin's head. You do not realize the damage you have caused by coming into my sacred grounds! He pushed down on Kevin in attempt to squeeze him. Tell me! For what reason did you come to defile this area?!?
Kevin gripped his head from the pain of the voice. "Don't shout!" Kevin yelled. "I can't concentrate on answering you when you're tearing it up with your voice alone." After a moment of recovery, Kevin looked up at Lugia.
Kevin couldn't believe his eyes. Lugia's size was immense, larger than Kevin could've anticipated. His wingspan alone seemed to go from one side to the other of the pond. And all the while, Lugia's gaze held a fierce glare, with the markings of his face making it appear all the more dangerous.
Do not make me ask again, Lugia said. He attempted to squish Kevin again. For what reason did you come here?
"Several," Kevin managed to say. The mere image of Lugia was filling Kevin with fear. "The major one is that Raikou, Entei, and Suicune sent me. Another is that I'm apparently under a curse that belongs to you. Although now that I'm here, I wish you were invisible."
Lugia backed his head away. What?? he said, startled. He then brought his stare closer to Kevin's face, at the same time attempting to punish Kevin by pushing him into the ground. Liar! No one can see me, not unless I allow them to, imposter!
Kevin felt anger seeping into him. Should we dare? Kevin asked Duo-Cevan.
It may not seem like a good idea, but I'm open for ideas, Duo-Cevan said, shrugging in the mind.
Kevin began harnessing his anger to replace the fear inside. He glared back at Lugia. "Don't squish me," Kevin growled. "And don't call me an imposter!"
You dare threaten me? Lugia growled back in Kevin's mind. He narrowed his eyes. Do you seriously think you have power to even face me, imposter?
"No," Kevin snarled, "but if you think your power is going to intimidate me like this, then you're wrong. I need your help, and so do the Three."
I don't know how you have learned of them, imposter, Lugia said, but I am going to make you wish you did not. He then began to push Kevin into the ground.
Kevin decided it was time. "I said don't squish me!!" he yelled. At the same time, Kevin used Strength and lifted Lugia's foot off of him, pushing Lugia away at the same time. Once Lugia's weight was off of him, he got up and got into a battle stance.
Now you openly rebel against me! Lugia yelled, causing Kevin to double over. Worthless human, now you will pay!! With that, he unleashed a powerful beam and sent it straight at Kevin.
"Just hear me out!" Kevin yelled, setting up a reflection barrier between him and the beam. To his surprise, the beam shattered it as if the barrier were glass, blasting Kevin with its power.
"Aaaaugghh!!" Kevin screamed in pain. He couldn't help it, as the beam felt as if it was scalding his skin. When the attack ended, Kevin slumped to the ground on his knees and rested his upper half on his hands, breathing hard.
However, Lugia didn't share Kevin's pain. Walking over him, he lowered his head and glared at Kevin. Perhaps you should learn when not to do things your way, Lugia said in a cold voice.
"I… was the Champion of Kanto…" Kevin said in between breaths. "Forgive me if my actions appear stubborn… but I have much to explain."
If you had any sense at all, you would not have come here in the first place, Lugia growled. But why should I have reason to listen to you at all, imposter?
Kevin looked up into Lugia's eyes. "Because… you're the only hope for me. You're the only hope for the Three… the legends Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. And if I managed to get this far in my hybrid state, by my Scyther's blades, then there should be no reason for you to not listen," Kevin stated. He turned his eyes into a glare of his own. "Even if it means I should attempt to take you down to make you hear what I say."
Lugia was silent for a moment. If there were one compliment I have to give you, 'hybrid,' it would be that you have courage, he sighed. However, it sometimes can be caused by lack of intelligence.
Almost at once, Kevin felt himself being lifted off the ground with Psychic. That same power began rotating him in front of Lugia, almost as if a child inspecting his new toy. However, Kevin had a feeling he knew what was going on. Think he'll believe that we're a hybrid? he asked Duo-Cevan.
If not, then we are definitely in trouble, Kevin, Duo-Cevan remarked.
Kevin realized that Duo-Cevan's attention wasn't on what was going on at the moment. The lantern Kevin had created was still bright and, now that it was in the center of the cavern, could reach all of the walls around them, save for the ceiling. As the Psychic rotated him, Kevin attempted to figure out what Duo-Cevan was worried about.
As he gazed at one wall, he suddenly thought he saw a pattern shift. However, as the Psychic slowed for a moment, he narrowed his eyes to get a better look. Using Foresight, he shot a beam of red light forward and illuminated what it was.
Kevin suddenly felt himself drop as Psychic let go of him. He landed with a loud splash in the water. He was too stunned, though, to respond to the pain.
I am beginning to think there is some truth to what you say, creature, Lugia said. When you used that Foresight, I felt your energy shift to that of a Scyther. However, that does not alter the fact that I despise you for entering my sacred grounds.
Kevin finally had courage to speak. "Was… was that… another Lugia?" he stammered. "But… how is that possible?"
The conversation was suddenly interrupted by another voice. "So… he's learned the truth," a female voice said.
Kevin immediately recognized the voice and turned toward the entrance of the cavern. "Suicune?!?" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Indeed, I would like to know that, as well, Lugia stated. What brings you so far from your home of safety near Kanto?
"I have come to explain the situation of this Scyther-Human, Lugia," Suicune declared. "He encountered our group and took your feather from our grounds. While he did not know it, the presence of Scyther energy fluctuating so erratically in him allows him to gain access to areas other humans cannot."
What is this? Lugia asked Kevin. Entering sacred grounds, taking purified relics? Have you no sense?
"I know, it was stupid," Kevin sighed. "However, I didn't have any intention of doing so. One of my Pokémon was after a Rattata that was acting in the most peculiar manner. It first pounced out at my Pokémon and, after I defeated it, it took off."
"That was something you did not mention to us, Scyther-Human," Suicune remarked. "To be precise, nothing before your meeting with us did you speak of. Tell us, Hybrid, of what occurred before your first step into Johto."
Kevin repeated his story, from the start of his champion status, to meeting with Prof. Oak and traveling to Johto. "As you can tell, my story takes me all over. Simply because of that, I've probably learned of far too much with just about anything." Kevin looked around the cavern walls again. "I think this would be added to the list of 'too much.'"
Indeed, it probably has, Lugia commented. Kevin felt him give a slight laugh. I can see why you act so stubborn now. Ever since your start as a 'champion,' as you refer it, you have had to fight alone.
"I can gather that," Kevin sighed. "However, that still leaves me puzzled. Where did all these other Lugia come from?"
"Never in the history of Pokémon have we ever revealed this knowledge to humans," Suicune said. "While you are slightly Pokémon, you must realize that once you learn of this, you are forever bound to keep this knowledge in your heart."
"This is also asking too much, but what would happen if I don't keep it with me and let it slip?" Kevin wondered.
This knowledge itself is power in its own way, Lugia said. Should you even begin to utter something of what is supposed to be bound with you, you will cease to exist… at all.
"Ok then, consequence or not, I'll listen and keep whatever you tell me a secret to even Ash, your Chosen One," Kevin sighed.
"You will listen regardless of the immense danger in learning this?" Suicune questioned.
"I'll just think of it as, 'something I have that others don't,'" Kevin said with a smirk. "Is that good enough?"'
Then listen carefully, stubborn one, Lugia said. What you see in this cavern are not illusions. They are Lugias, duplicates of me. I am the Greater Lugia, and these are the Lesser.
"What about you, Suicune?" Kevin asked, turning toward her. "Do you have copies? And if so, are you a greater or a lesser?"
"I have duplicates as well, but I am a Lesser," Suicune replied. "Most legends follow this pattern. It allows us to watch over many at once."
"What about the legendary Birds? I heard they make nests for offspring. And Mew and Mewtwo?"
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres are exceptions, Lugia answered. While the Greater of the birds reside on the Orange Islands, which I gather you have not visited yet, they create their Lesser through natural means. Mew indeed follows our pattern, but not as often, so it appears to have fewer numbers. This Mewtwo you speak of, however… I have never heard of him.
Kevin, don't you remember that he's a clone? Duo-Cevan wondered.
Yeah, but I just wanted to make sure, Kevin sighed.
Kevin continued his questioning. "What about Celebi?" he asked.
Almost the entire cavern was aroused at the question. Several Lesser Lugias flew down and came to the same level as Kevin. They were not as large as the Greater Lugia, but still intimidating. Some of them began asking questions at once. Celebi? Is it true? How do you know of Celebi? Who did you learn this from?
Silence!! The Greater Lugia shouted. Although he spoke with no voice, it seemed to echo off the cavern walls. Kevin flinched from the shout, but the other Lugias returned to their position in the cavern. He turned to Kevin. Celebi? The Legend of Time? How did you come across him?
"He came to me, actually," Kevin said. "Just as I was passing this shrine in the Illex forest, he appeared."
So he came to you? Few know of his presence, and even fewer have met him. Many of his actions are unknown even to me. Tell me, what did he do when he visited you?
"Well, it was very odd, really. He pulled me into a portal through time to meet with myself in the past. I had to encourage myself that I could be the champion that I was," Kevin explained.
You met with a duplicate of yourself? Lugia wondered. Odd… I suspected that Celebi had powers to intervene with time. I never suspected him, though, to have powers capable of causing people to meet with their own self. You must have had a powerful role in your time to have Celebi bring your future self to the past.
"Indeed," Suicune agreed. "You seem to have played a vital role in time that was nearly as powerful as the Chosen One."
"Nearly as?" Kevin repeated. "Why do you say, 'nearly as?' What does Ash have over me?"
"Unlike you, who has only seen the Greater Lugia," Suicune explained, "I am only a Lesser. Only Ash, the Chosen One, is picked from all others to see the Greater legends congregated together."
Kevin's jaw dropped open for a moment before he snapped it shut again. "Congregated? Do you mean that he'll be in command of all the Legends?" Kevin wondered.
Yes, Lugia nodded. He will be recognized as the most powerful of all. However, even he, like you, will disappear over time, and reappear when it becomes necessary.
"So, that's it then?" Kevin shook his head. "Has my life been just another pawn in destiny?"
I cannot determine the future, Lugia stated. I only know of those legends that have been foretold. Whether you are to disappear again or not after your task with finding your Psychic is beyond my comprehension, but regaining your glimmer as the role of a champion is past recovery.
"That's what Celebi said, as well," Kevin sighed. "Figures you would say the same thing. I just wish I knew where I could find my family."
"We are getting off topic," Suicune said. "Kevin, you came to help us?"
"Huh?" Kevin glanced over at Suicune, and something lit up in his mind. "Oh yeah!"
Lugia eyed Kevin. What is this that you came to speak to me about?
"Lugia, the absolute main reason I'm here, besides the fact that I was cursed from touching your feather, was to help them replace the ward on their field," Kevin said.
It shall be done, Lugia nodded.
Lugia then turned to Suicune. Why is it that you sent this creature, and not yourself?
"I wanted him to have a chance," Suicune answered. "I knew that he was cursed for touching your feather, so I sent him, knowing he can be healed by your true melody."
"I guess I was fighting it, seeing how I managed to make it from their field to here," Kevin suggested. "I nearly lost it, though… it was poisoning my mind."
Perhaps it was not just the melody, Lugia said. Perhaps there was something else that was involved… such as the Psychic you are going after.
"The Psychic??" Kevin exclaimed in question.
Yes, Lugia nodded. However, you should first head to the city west of here, what they call Cianwood. Your friend should be located at where you take your Pokémon, the Pokécenter. He should know where to look for your enemy.
"Why? Don't you know where the Psychic is?"
I do, Lugia complied. However, you should reassure your friend that you are safe. He can also grant you additional information.
"Very well," Kevin sighed. He suddenly felt tired from his encounter, especially since he was blasted by Lugia's attack.
Perhaps we should ask what attack he used on us, Duo-Cevan suddenly said. It's certainly no hyper beam. They aren't that bright, and they don't burn.
Why not? Kevin thought. He breathed deep before he began. "Lugia, what was that attack you used on me? I've never seen it before."
Of course you have not, Lugia said. It is my most powerful attack. Those who have heard of me know the beam as 'Aeroblast.' A fitting name, is it not?
"Yeah, I guess so," Kevin sighed. He couldn't take it anymore. He collapsed on the water in exhaustion. Even though his medicine kicked in, it still wouldn't awaken him.
"It appears that Kevin has lost too much energy," Suicune said, walking over to him.
Indeed, Lugia agreed. He looked up into the cavern. Lugina! Come!
A Lesser Lugia from one of the shelves on the cavern walls flew down to the Greater Lugia's level. You summoned, Great One?
Escort the Scyther-Human to your shelf and guard him closely as he rests, Lugia ordered. If you should feel exhausted before he awakes, send him to Lugara.
As you wish. Lugina took the almost lifeless Kevin onto his back and flew up into the darkness.
Suicune watched Lugina ascend out of view before she turned to Lugia. "You did not tell him," she stated.
I am aware of that, Lugia sighed. He is not ready to know. I fear the worst for the Human-Scyther.
"You sense his power, as well?" Suicune wondered.
Indeed, Lugia nodded. It is well above what he should have for any creature. His body must react to the melody in a different manner, attempting to repel the song curse by increasing his energy reserves. It was that increase that was poisoning his mind, which puzzles me.
"Why does it puzzle you?"
He seems to be of good nature, Lugia commented. Though at the moment he cares for himself, he holds no malice against the good. If that is the case, then when his body reacted to the song curse by increasing his energy, he should not have been poisoned by it. The melody would have destroyed every part of his mind that was sane long before that should have occurred.
"Are you suggesting something else is interfering?" Suicune asked.
No, I am suggesting something is contaminating it. Was there anything else placed on him after the song curse?
"Only a curse to ensure his promise," Suicune said. "Instantaneous madness."
As I suspected. Lugia glanced up at Lugina's platform on the cavern wall. Even though the cavern itself had darkened because the lantern faded from Kevin's lack of strength to sustain it, Lugia could see it as though it were broad daylight. Suicune, you are to return back to your Greater legend and report that a Lesser Lugia will now monitor Kevin's movements. Should I require your presence again, I will contact you directly through telepathy.
"And the ward on our field?" Suicune asked.
It will be renewed by the time you arrive back, Lugia assured. As of now, I must… study Kevin. These curses had an affect to him that is… strange to us. While the curse you placed on him does not seem to be taking affect yet, It may cause something undesirable to him… or worse, us.
"Are you suggesting that he could be a potential threat to us??" Suicune asked earnestly.
He is a creature that we have not dealt with before, Lugia stated. However, it is no longer your task to watch over him. Now go.
"But he is still human—"
GO!!! Lugia shouted, the voice echoing loudly several times before subsiding. Suicune, not waiting to be commanded again, bolted from the cavern into the tunnel and beyond.