Chapter 23: Into the Wolf's Den
"Kevin."
"Huh?" Kevin looked around in the darkness. He tried lighting the area around him with flash, but to no avail.
"I must warn you. The Psychic is awake!"
"Who are you?" Kevin asked.
"I am one who is talking to you through a Psychic channel," the voice answered. "We speak as though we are talking, but it is only telepathy."
"That doesn't answer my question," Kevin shouted. "Who are you??"
"I'll not speak of anymore than what I have said," the voice stated. "Either you can heed my warning or ignore it. I must leave now."
"Wait!!" Kevin shouted.
* * *
"Wait!"
Kevin looked around. He was once again in the recovery room. Bah, I hate Psychics who don't say who they are, he thought to himself.
"Have a bad dream?" Warles asked quietly. He was dressed up in Kevin's trainer suit. Although it was slightly larger than him, it still gave the illusion that it was Kevin. It also meant Warles didn't have to change out of his scientist suit.
"No, it was like someone was contacting me," Kevin answered in the same volume. "It said that the Psychic is awake."
"Well, of course he's awake!" Warles exclaimed. "It's not even past 8:00 yet. People are still enjoying the last hour before it gets too dark, and by the time you get there, he will be asleep."
"I hope you're right," Kevin sighed. "Now I need my trainer suit."
Warles deactivated the trainer suit and pulled the device off of the back of his neck. "I must say, still, that this is the most advanced I've ever seen you, Kevin," he complimented as he handed the device to Kevin.
"Thanks," Kevin answered as he attached the device onto the back of his own neck and activated it. "Is there anyone out in the main area of the Pokécenter?" Kevin asked.
"There were people coming in and out, but there's no one in currently," Warles said. "Like I said, they're enjoying the last hour before it gets too dark."
"Good, I didn't want anyone suspecting something as they saw two people come out instead of one," Kevin commented. He got up and began heading toward the front of the building.
"Kevin," Warles called to him before the door to the main area was opened. "Good luck."
Kevin looked back and nodded before heading out of the recovery room and out of the Pokécenter. Calling out Fearow, which he got before even going in the recovery room, he hopped on the bird's back and began flying.
I've got a bad feeling this whole mission is off to a bad start, Duo-Cevan thought.
I would think so, too, Kevin said, but there's no turning back now. Either we're the hunter or the hunted.
Who do you think that voice was? Duo-Cevan asked.
Kevin shrugged in his mind. Who knows now, he answered.
* * *
The moon was high in the air by the time Kevin got to Violet City. All right, Kevin said. We'll start from Violet and walk along the main route, and head north to Ekruteak. Duo-Cevan, I want you to make sure to double-check all of my senses as I use them, in case I miss something.
Does this seem familiar somehow? Duo-Cevan wondered as they landed.
Kevin thought for a moment. Hey, you're right… I did this for finding Mewtwo, except I was still human, he said. And this time I know not to trust any people taking surveys in the middle of nowhere!
Yeah, Duo-Cevan agreed. We wouldn't want a Scyther-Chikorita-Human hybrid!
Kevin walked out of Violet to the west and onto the route. Kevin took his time to look along the forest wall. Although the blend of leaves and wood easily shown an impenetrable wall, once in a while the walls of the route nearly fooled Kevin into thinking there was something there, had Cevan not said anything.
Sheesh, Johto certainly is a lot different than Kanto, Kevin commented as he walked. This foliage almost seems impossible for natural means!
It only seems that way because the forests here are a little more of a jungle state, Duo-Cevan remarked. Not only that, but the plants here are probably different than what you find in Kanto.
Plants, maybe. Pokémon, not really, Kevin sighed as a Pidgey flew overhead. I haven't seen much of the newer ones here except for Hoothoot, Scizor, and the Legends. It's almost as if they're hiding from us.
Wait! Duo-Cevan shouted.
Kevin stopped walking. What? he asked in eagerness. Did you see something?
What did you just say a moment ago? Duo-Cevan asked back. Before you asked me the question.
You mean when I said, 'it's almost as if they're hiding from us?' why do you want to know? Kevin wondered.
A switch seemed to go on in Duo-Cevan's head. That's it! he exclaimed. That's the connection!
What is? You've lost me.
Don't you see? Warles said that it would be no problem finding the opening to the lair unless we've forgotten how to be a Pokémon, Duo-Cevan explained. And you just said that it's almost as if they're hiding.
And…?
That means there's an illusion to the Psychic's home! An illusion that blocks the entrance into the forest wall from the eyes!
Kevin realized what Duo-Cevan finally was talking about. I get it now, he said. You're saying that it's the exact same dilemma that we had in the forest north of Cherrygrove, except it's a Psychic performing the illusion this time.
Exactly, Duo-Cevan agreed. And that means we have to use foresight!
Clever, Duo-Cevan, Kevin complimented. Of course, now I'd like to know why Warles didn't tell us.
Maybe he didn't know, Duo-Cevan said, shrugging in the mind. Of course, if he did know, Maybe we should be wondering how he came across the knowledge.
Kevin glanced around to make sure no one was looking, and, finding not a soul on the route, a red beam shot from his eyes onto the forest wall as he used Foresight. After a minute of looking, Kevin dispelled an illusion, which blended perfectly with the impenetrable forest to reveal a gaping hole in the wall of plants, covered over with a bad arrangement of vines and twigs.
I have a sneaking feeling that he did know, Kevin said, eyeing the hole. Sheesh, how does Warles figure out these things?
Kevin stopped using Foresight and walked toward the now reappeared illusion. Bringing back his hands, he slashed both sides of what appeared to be a tree. Feeling the blades of his fingers cutting vines as they swung, he then slashed the illusionary tree across the top and finished the Cut attack. He then stepped through the hole, trampling over the fallen vines.
Clever, very clever, Kevin thought. Of course, now you're mine, Arguelles.
Kevin walked calmly through the underbrush and branches, not minding a bit whether they rubbed against his leg or arm. His skin was already tough from being a Scyther, and with the strengthening of it in battles a few thorns would be nothing.
This is too easy, Kevin said to Duo-Cevan. I was almost expecting a sentry. Plus, the path is straight.
Maybe no one expects a home to be off the route like this, Duo-Cevan suggested.
No, it can't be that, Kevin said, his voice to a near growl. Arguelles must know that we're coming.
Then why are we still going on? Duo-Cevan wondered.
I'd rather face him than one of his armies, Kevin said. Besides, it's now or never.
Kevin walked through a final branch and stepped into a clearing. Looking at the house that looked like a haunted mansion in the moonlight, he walked up to the gates.
Kevin's eye caught the plaque next to the iron gates. What's this? he asked. 'Touch this plaque, and quickly state your name and your reason for being here. Clear your mind before you do so!'
Well, obviously he expects no one to climb over his fence, Duo-Cevan said as Kevin glanced up at the gates and fence, which to him seemed more like spears pointed upward.
We don't need to climb, Kevin said. Duo-Cevan took temporary control and flew over the fence.
All at once, a pink wall appeared from the ground and grew upward into the sky from all around the fence. The walls joined together above him forming a large dome. Kevin watched it occur and attempted to fly through the wall, but discovered it was a thick barrier.
Well, well, well… I should've expected that you would've gone over the fence instead of using my Psychic doorbell, A voice said in Kevin's head.
"Hydro pumps, it's a trap!" Kevin muttered.
The door to the home opened and a man dressed casually walked calmly out at the disguised Kevin. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… You should've known better, Kevin," the man said in a cool voice. "But I welcome you to my home, anyway. Shall we have something to eat first?" he motioned his hands to the door. "After all, you must be hungry."
"Arguelles!" Kevin shouted in surprise, seeing the man. His surprise turned to anger and he assumed a battle stance. "You hunt me down, then expect me to eat in your home? What kind of joke is this?"
"It's no joke," Arguelles said. "Certainly you should use this to your advantage to have some of your greatest questions answered. That is, unless you prefer to die ignorant."
"Is this a trap as well?" Kevin wondered. "You intend to kill me, and you want me to believe that I'm going to be your guest for the evening? And what kind of man would eat in the middle of the night?"
The man gave a glare to Kevin. "Don't tempt my patience," Arguelles growled. "Either I can answer all the questions you want to know and fight later, or you can end up on my gates right now. After all, you were the one who decided to come even after I warned you."
Kevin growled, but the Psychic was right. He was warned. He also was a bit hungry from the long travel, as he hadn't eaten since he left. "Fine then. I'll eat. You're right… I am a little hungry."
"A wise move, Kevin. Oh yes, by the way… you won't need your disguise on in my home."
* * *
Kevin and Arguelles sat at a small table on opposite ends. A cart, holding foods of all sorts, sat off to the side, while Swieten sat on its side, waiting for commands.
"Would you like some more of my nutmeg?" Arguelles asked.
"Sure," Kevin said, not looking up from his food. I can't treat him like a friend, he thought. I won't be able to fight him if I do.
"Swieten, refill our guest's cup," Arguelles said. As the Murkrow did so, Arguelles stopped eating for a moment. "I suppose you'd like to know who I am, don't you?"
"I already do know," Kevin said in a monotone voice. "You're the Psychic that's been hunting me."
"Ahh, but do you know why?" Arguelles asked. "Perhaps you've wondered why the name seems familiar."
"No, I don't know why. But I am familiar with the name."
"Perhaps I'll give you a hint then," Arguelles sighed. "I was fifth in your team."
Kevin's glance shot up at Arguelles. Arguelles grinned. "So you remember, don't you? You remember how I was the fifth member of the Pokémasters' Squadron."
"Yes, and then removed because your ways of training was brutal," Kevin growled. "What did you think you were doing, anyway? I suppose you say you had a very good reason for nearly strangling your Pidgeot to death."
"Of course I had a good reason," Arguelles argued. "That feather-headed bird nearly hit me with his wing attack when he was fighting another Pokémon! I had to teach him a lesson somehow."
"There's a fine line between disciplining and causing intentional harm," Kevin said in a deep voice, almost a growl. "Had I not walked in at that time, you probably would've collapsed his wind pipe. I suppose you haven't done that to him yet even after nearly 10 years?"
"That bird is long gone now," Arguelles said. "I was so bitter after that incident that I vowed I would get revenge on you. Of course, when you disappeared those nine years ago, I thought that my work as a trainer was finished, and released all of my Pokémon, training to be a powerful Psychic so I could teach everyone who was a Pokémon trainer a painful lesson."
You didn't spend this last year training your Psychic capabilities, though, Swieten interrupted.
"True, I did. But I wasn't expecting to pick up a familiar signal along Route 3."
"That's when you sent the Fearows after me, wasn't it?" Kevin asked after getting some more spaghetti.
"No, as I sensed you before your little run with that pathetic 'Rocket' wanna-be trio," Arguelles explained. "I had to harness the minds of all those Fearow and give them the command. Of course, without an extraordinary attack against them, they would press on to their objective until it was accomplished, which was destroying you."
"If that was the case, why were they chasing after others on the route?" Kevin wondered.
"If there were others, they would've completely plowed right through them," Arguelles answered. "You must've imagined my confusion, though… especially after the Gyrados run. I managed to get a view of a Scyther doing electric attacks from their eyes! I thought it was your Scyther for quite some time."
"Yet you didn't track me at my every move?"
"Well, your signal was constantly appearing and vanishing to my Psychic sense. It was very confusing at first. It wasn't until after your passing through Cherrygrove City that I learned of what you were. And after I saw you through Swieten's eyes—your true form—well, let's just say that was all I needed."
"That would explain the forest of water," Kevin muttered. He quickly changed the subject. "How is it that you hold a grudge even after all those years?"
"It should be obvious," Arguelles said after sipping some of his tea. "You stripped me of my greatest pride: removed me from the Pokémasters' Squadron. After I worked so hard for it, my dream is shattered in nearly two weeks."
"Guess you haven't heard of 'forgive and forget,' then," Kevin sighed. "Shame you didn't heed the rules of Indigo Plateau well enough."
"Well, even if I wanted my position back in the Pokémasters' Squadron, there's no chance of it now that they've reformed. But enough talk," Arguelles said. He motioned for Swieten to go to Kevin. "Swieten, escort our guest into his bedroom. It's nearly 2:00 in the morning and I would like my guest to be fully ready for when we battle."
Very well then, Master, Swieten sighed. And what task shall you take? The kitchen squad?
"I'm in no mood for jokes, Swieten," Arguelles joked.
Strange, Swieten said in a curious tone. You were always the one who—
"Silence!" Arguelles shouted, lifting a clean plate from the cart and hurling it at the Murkrow with his mind. Though Swieten had little warning, he managed to dodge it without harm. "Now do as you're told." With that, Arguelles left the dining room.
Swieten took flight, and Kevin followed closely. "You must get tired of him treating you with an iron fist," Kevin said in wonder.
Swieten sighed. No, it's not that, Swieten said. He's been like that even before he became my Pokémon trainer. Either he has no humor or, when he does, it's rather dark.
"So why are you telling me this?" Kevin asked.
Honestly, I have no idea, Swieten sighed. Something about you… it sparks my interest. Even though you tried to stop me by inflicting pain, I almost feel sorry that my Master should have to kill you tomorrow.
"He won't kill me," Kevin stated, his confidence strong. "Though he's a Psychic, I've had training through… well, probably others stronger than him."
I highly doubt that, Swieten sighed. He's completely bent on revenge. It seems to heighten his Psychic abilities. But we shall see, won't we?