Chapter 25: The Ultimate Danger
"Huh?" Arguelles said in confusion. He detected no psychic activity around Kevin, but Kevin just simply hovered there. Arguelles attempted to thrust Kevin onto the gates.
Nothing happened.
Kevin wondered what was going on, as well. He realized, though, that something was wrong.
Duo-Cevan! Kevin shouted, realizing what it was. Whatever it was, it was beginning to make him lose consciousness. Are you doing this?
No! Duo-Cevan shouted back. Kevin could tell it was fading. But I'm losing consciousness. We have to… fight it!
I'm trying! Kevin remarked. His mind felt like it was fading also. But it's… not… working…
We have… to… stay aw… Duo-Cevan didn't even finish what he was saying.
Arguelles noticed Kevin's eyes close. He looked up at his Murkrow. "Swieten!" he shouted. "Dispel whatever he's doing! If anyone can sense it, it's you."
Swieten shook his head. If he's using anything, it's beyond my sensing, Arguelles, he replied.
Arguelles looked back at Kevin and noticed something occurring. "What in blazes?" He said, wondering.
As he watched, Kevin floated away from the fence and toward Arguelles, landing on the ground and looking like someone who had fallen asleep on their feet. A few moments later, two noticeable black stripes ran down Kevin's arms, from the shoulders to his elbows. Another two appeared on his chest, and one on his forehead. At the same time, Kevin's usually bright green color darkened, and the coloring of his chest turned a deep red. Finally, Kevin looked up at Arguelles, fully awake, but the whites of his eyes had gone completely black, and the iris of his eyes a haunting, bright red.
Arguelles gave a slight clap. "Bravo, Kevin," he said. "However, it will take more than a color change to look evil in order to scare me."
"Fool," Kevin said. His voice had even assumed a deep, scratchy tone, intent on scaring the wits out of anyone. "You assume too much. Kevin is no longer in control of this form. I am."
"Don't play games with me, Kevin," Arguelles said, growling.
"I'm not playing games!" 'Kevin' shouted. "My powers have finally been awakened, and my plans will now be executed! Legends of the world, do you hear me? I am Cevan, and all will cower in my wake!"
"Legends of the world…?" Arguelles said in confusion. "Do you think you're some kind of deity?"
"Compared to you, yes," Cevan remarked. "You shall be my first victim, as well. You should be honored to know what will happen to the rest of the human race after what I'll do to you!"
Arguelles's cool expression suddenly turned to horror. "Wait… you're definitely not acting this out!" he said, realizing what was occurring. "What on earth are you?"
"I am the one you raised from the depths!" Cevan shouted. "A curse of insanity, made only to hide something deeper. As much as you want to think I am Kevin, I no longer have the attribute of an insignificant bug. Though my body appears to be such of those bug and flying, I am pure darkness! You will know my wrath once I rain it down over the human race and your lifeless body!"
"Impossible!" Arguelles shouted. "Have you evolved? No Pokemon can not evolve and become types of something else in a pure state… You're bluffing!"
"That's what you would like to think," Cevan said. "But prepare yourself…" Cevan raised his hands into the air. "Feel my awesome power!!"
In Cevan's position, he unleashed a massive explosion. This was no ordinary explosion, however; this was one that was made up entirely of dark-type energy. It made no noise, no visual effect… but it caused Arguelles to fall to his knees.
"Eerrgh!!" Arguelles shouted, attempting to block the force of the explosion in his mind.
Swieten, unaffected, watched the horror. Master! he shouted to Arguelles, observing the energy flowing past where he stood. This is obviously not of his doing! It's not Kevin anymore, it's some Dark Cevan!!
"I know that, Swieten!" Arguelles shouted. "Do you think his energy that he can use at once just expands to unimaginable proportions for no reason at all?!?"
"Everyone shall feel my power!" Dark Cevan shouted. "Everyone shall feel the hope being pulled from them, and have the sense of dread before they, too, are consumed by the darkness!"
Arguelles only stared at Dark Cevan. He couldn't speak. He was too horrified at what he was seeing. Though Kevin could not feel anything, Arguelles watched it all happen. He watched Kevin come from his good-natured form to that of a cold, bloodthirsty killer.
Kevin had become his Shadow.
* * *
Lugia's thoughts went from following Ash to wondering how their 'subject' was doing. Lugina, he called.
Lugina looked down from his shelf in the cavern. Yes, Great Lugia? he called back.
How fares our new subject? Lugia asked. Is the Scyther-Human's progress going well?
He has already arrived where the Psychic is, Lugina replied, and is currently engaging in a battle. I am still trying to determine who is winning, as this Psychic's powers are interfering with my abilities.
As long as our subject is well, then we have nothing to worry.
Lugia, Lugina suddenly said before Lugia's attention was pulled to something else. Why does this 'hybrid' concern you?
He is not our kind, nor that of humans, Lugia stated. It would interest me how he reacts to situations.
Lugia went back to tracking Ash. However, it wasn't a minute before Lugia suddenly had a terrible feeling of dread hit him like an oversized boulder. Immediately following the dread, Lugia could detect that something evil had erupted.
The Lesser Lugia had felt it, too. Many of them were talking at once.
Did you feel that? Yes, though I thought it was nothing. Nothing? An evil presence erupts and you say it is nothing? I wonder if the Great One felt it as well… he seems to be noticing the energy.
SILENCE!!! Lugia boomed, his voice as angry as he by the constant thread of conversation. It echoed off the cavern walls far longer than when Kevin was around.
After the cavern was calm again, Lugia looked around. Is there anyone who noticed an evil energy radiate from someone they were tracking? he asked.
All the Lesser Lugia shook their heads. All except for Lugina, who was using his wings to clutch his head, as though it were going to fall over.
Lugina! Lugia said to him. Are you all right?
No, Lugina responded. That evil presence… it was attempting to crush my mind.
It must have come from the two you were observing, Lugia said. He paused for a moment, and hoped to himself that it wasn't what he thought it would be. Can you determine who the darkness is coming from?
I can try. Lugia removed his wings from his head and concentrated for a moment. He then stopped and looked at Lugia. The Psychic's interference has cleared, and I can determine what is happening in the area. The Psychic is on the ground, most likely suffering the same from my experience. As for Kevin, I can no longer sense him.
Which means, Lugia added, That our subject is either dead or he is the source of this evil presence. Lugia shook his head. I will assume that our subject is dead. This means that whatever is projecting the evil presence must still be at his location.
What shall be done about it?
Lugia thought for a moment. Lugina, he said, This task of investigation involving the Lugia legend shall be on your wings. I must attend to watching our Chosen One. However, I will contact the Three Lessers that monitored Kevin for his previous time of traveling. They will investigate as well.
What of Ho-oh? Lugina asked. We have not heard from them for some time.
What concerns us now may not concern Ho-oh, Lugia replied. If a Lesser of Ho-oh should appear where you are headed, so be it. As of now, the threat can only be assumed that it is not attempting to destroy the whole world.
But we have already had that situation come to pass, Great Lugia! Lugina reminded. Ho-oh never came for that dilemma!
Do not argue with me, Lugina, Lugia said, his voice going to a small growl. Though you are among the first of my Lesser, now is not to be questioning what will happen. I repeat: If Ho-oh should send one of his Lesser to investigate, so be it. Now go!
Yes… yes, Great Lugia, Lugina said, shaken slightly. He dove into the enchanted pool and headed toward his destination, becoming invisible.
* * *
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune were also slightly concerned. They had felt the presence sooner than Lugia. They were not aware of this, however, so they awaited Lugia's call.
"Why has Lugia not contacted us?" Raikou wondered. "He is the one with stronger capabilities to sense evil."
Suicune stopped her pacing to look at the others. "Perhaps this 'evil' force is much like a shockwave," she suggested. "Or perhaps he needs the Greater of the Three to perform this task."
"Impossible!" Entei shouted. "You even know that all Greater legends must focus the majority of their tasks to assisting the Chosen One."
"Even a Greater legend must answer to fight the call of evil, should it be necessary," Suicune said. "Should they not be able to accomplish the evil's defeat, the Chosen One would be able to do so."
"The Chosen One is merely a child, Suicune," Raikou stated. "Whatever this is, if all the Greater legends of the world could not stop it, the child would not be able to perform what they attempted."
Suicune, Raikou, and Entei, a familiar voice of Lugia echoed in their heads.
All three legends turned toward the center of the clearing. An illusion of Lugia, no bigger than they were, materialized at the location.
"We hear your call, Lugia," the three of them said.
Do you sense the presence of evil? Lugia asked.
"We have for some time," Raikou stated. "We were beginning to wonder whether you would contact us or not. However, the location of where this evil is seems to be covered by something."
Then listen well, Lugia said in a cold voice. Lugina's subject, Kevin, disappeared as soon as the evil presence was detected. Not even I can detect where it is, which suggests that this evil is of a dark-type. I, therefore, must require that you assist Lugina and approach towards Kevin's location.
"Very well," Raikou said, nodding. "We shall move as quickly as possible."
One last thing before you leave, Lugia said quickly. Until this evil is dispatched, Suicune will take command. It will most likely attack you when you arrive, and Suicune's protection should prevent heavy damage.
"Understood, Lugia," Suicune said. "But where is this evil located?"
Search for a powerful Psychic, and you will find Kevin, Lugia informed. Or, what may remain of him. His signal disappeared to Lugina, so I can only assume that he is dead. Now, make haste… the evil must be stopped! At that, the illusion faded to nothing.
The Three looked at each other. "Kevin?" Raikou said. "No… It cannot be…"
"We have no time to stand idly!" Suicune declared. "Let us move, now!"
* * *
"What in blazes is going on?" Lance shouted.
Lance, as well as the Elite Four, had felt the wave of dread wash over them. In fact, the whole of Indigo Plateau had felt it, and twice the headquarters, with the help of the police, had to stop an outbreak of widespread panic. Lance, after inviting the media to calm the population through a live broadcast, made his outburst once they left the main building.
"I'm still trying to make heads or tails of this," Bruno said. "It's not everyday that you sense something dangerous is about to happen."
"It seems that the population of Kanto felt it as well," Will, the new recruit of the Elite Four, sighed. Lance had left his position in the team and took the role of Champion of Indigo Plateau, due to popular demand from the people. They had complained that a team together couldn't hold the position.
"That, and it nearly caused two cities to go into a riot," Lance growled. "Now I have to go look for whatever is causing this just to keep people calm, and I haven't the foggiest idea where to go!"
"I can guide you where to go," Agatha spoke up.
Lance glanced over to the woman. Amazing, Lance thought in wonder. I had forgotten that she's in tune with spirits. And with her overwhelming knowledge… She's definitely the right person for his team. It's a wonder she's still alive at this old age.
Lance turned to Agatha. "Can you pinpoint on a map where to head?" he asked her.
Agatha nodded. "To the ghosts of the land, a signal of evil can stir even the most contented of them," she stated. She moved her frail hand to her face and touched her nose with her index finger as if she were concentrating. "They seem to be telling me that it's coming from a location within the new continent, Johto."
Lance quickly pulled out a large map of the entire continent of Johto from a pocket within his cloak. "Point to where they tell you its location," He said.
Agatha's hand moved as if something was pulling it toward the map. Finally, it touched a spot in the forest west of Violet City. "They say it is there. However, they cannot identify what the cause is to me."
"Great," Lance sighed. He turned to Lorelei, who had not said anything yet. "Lorelei, inform everyone in Indigo Plateau that we will not be accepting challenges this week or the next."
"Some trainers will complain about this," Lorelei reminded.
"Well, if they do, inform them that there is something dangerous in Johto and I have taken the task to stop it," he explained as he put his map away. He walked towards the exit, but stopped and sighed. "By Moltres's flame, I'll be lucky if the Legends put a stop to this before I have to fight whatever it is!" Lance shouted before storming out.