Chapter 27: The Truth is Revealed
After Mewtwo hypnotized Arguelles into a deep sleep and Lugina putting a barrier through all forms of hearing, all the Legends looked at Warles. "How did you know of the Memory loss?" Suicune asked.
Warles took a deep breath before beginning. "Through my life, I had a promise from Celebi himself that I would be an observer of time, and he would only intervene when necessary. After the second explosion, I woke up to find myself face-to-face with the Legend himself. He then told me that he had saved me from both explosions, the one with Mewtwo and with Kevin, through an ability called 'time displacement.' In otherwords, he pulled me from one location and put me in another."
"Celebi intervened with time to save you?" Suicune wondered. "For what?"
"For one, this event," Warles said. "Up until now from the second explosion, I had to play the idiot, that I didn't know anything. Some of the events in Kevin's life I foresaw, such as his capture with Team Rocket. It was the only thing to do, since if he didn't go in there, he would've never been able to make his powers stable."
Why did Celebi not tell us? Lugina asked.
"Why didn't Celebi tell you about Kevin's experience? We both were determined to tell you sooner or later."
Warles has a point, Mewtwo said. However, that does not explain why you were scared when I arrived in Cianwood.
"I knew you or someone else would be coming, but before I saw the face from the light in my insight, Cevan's wave of darkness severed the connection between Celebi and I," Warles explained. "Frankly enough, seeing someone who nearly destroyed me in a previous process is frightening enough."
True, Mewtwo admitted.
"So Cevan's explosion of darkness made you incapable of viewing time with Celebi?" Suicune wondered.
"Of course! Celebi is a Psychic, just like Lugina and Mewtwo. Without being able to see time, though, I couldn't tell when Mewtwo would come or not, so I hired a spy to watch for it. Unfortunately, I couldn't convince him it was a hyper beam, since he saw you Three leap the trees, So I simply said one of them must be after me. Then I had to explain the situation to Joy, since she overheard my conversation. Don't worry, though. They won't remember any of this once Celebi gets back in connection to me."
Warles looked back at the unconscious Kevin. "However," Warles began, "Suicune, Raikou and Entei, you must do something about the curse in Kevin. If he is allowed to wander free of your abilities, you may not be able to reach him in time before he destroys a city or two. The curse is now embedded in him, unable to be pulled."
Warles saw Kevin beginning to stir on the ground. "Kevin is regaining consciousness," he declared. "And Lance will be coming soon. He won't recognize the Psychic, but it won't matter anyway. I will have Celebi reset Arguelles's mind, and when Lance and Kevin is about to leave, he will wake up and think he is a Pokémon watcher. As for the Murkrow, he will have no memory that any of this happened, and will be wild again. You will have to tell him that you reset Arguelles's mind, however."
"Why can you not?" Raikou asked.
"Are you kidding?" Warles exclaimed. "The punishment for any human, being part Scyther or not, learning of my work with a Legend is banishment from this world into a completely different realm! A void, if you will. I'm risking my life just talking with Kevin waking up!" Warles turned and began walking toward the edge of the forest. "Kevin may come back here to learn more as far as attacks and abilities are concerned, but my main mission, as well as his, are over." With that, Warles walked past the forest entrance and out of view.
As if on cue, Kevin woke up. "Wha… What happened?" He wondered. "Last thing I remember, I was hovering over the gates…"
Suicune explained the darkness state Kevin had entered. Kevin became wide-eyed. "You mean… I nearly killed someone?"
"Had we not pulled Warles into this situation, you would've done so with Arguelles," Raikou said. "Unfortunately, he could not remain with the knowledge of us. Also, Arguelles's memory is wiped. He will no longer be a powerful Psychic, but instead a Pokémon watcher."
Catching everyone in the area by surprise, a hyper beam shot from the edge of the forest in between everyone. Lance and his Dragonite leapt through the trees, a fierce stare in their eyes.
"Hold, you monster!" Lance shouted, staring at Kevin. "What manner of evil are you that you would cause a near panic throughout Kanto?!?"
"Whoa! Hang on, Lance! I'm no enemy!" Kevin shouted. "It's me, your old buddy Kevin!"
"Liar!" Lance accused. "Are you trying to throw me off my guard? My Dragonite will take you down!"
He is no liar, Lance, Lugina said, confronting the man. He is indeed Kevin, the Legend of Kanto.
"Lugia??" Lance said, startled. "Oh, forgive me for not noticing your presence! I had no idea—"
It makes no difference, Lugina said, posing as the Greater. All that you must respect is that the evil is crippled, and Kevin is restored, with the exception of his hybrid state.
Lance did a double take with Kevin before approaching him. He stared hard into Kevin's eyes. "Kevin?" he began. "Is that… you?"
"The one and only, Lance!" Kevin said, pulling out his Pokédex.
"By the great Legends of earth, sky, and sea!" Lance exclaimed. "Kevin! You're alive! But… what happened to you?"
"Legends?" Kevin asked suddenly. "Will Lance's knowledge of you be a hindrance?"
"No, since it has come to this," Suicune said. "The curse we put on you is embedded. We have to suppress it, but we cannot do it away from you."
"Suicune? What are you suggesting?" Entei asked.
"I'd like to know myself," Kevin wondered.
Suicune looked down. "With great reluctance on our part, we have decided to… become your Pokémon."
"WHAT?!?" everyone else said in unison.
"I oppose this!" Entei spoke up first. "I refuse to be a part of this!"
"We have no choice, Raikou and Entei," Suicune said. "We placed the curse on him, and we cannot remove it. Therefore, it is against my will, as well as yours, to become guardians to him and be as his Pokémon."
"I will not!" Raikou declared fiercely. "You can be his Pokémon, but I will not!"
"You have no say in the matter, Raikou," Entei said fiercely, "and even though I also refuse to be a part of this, I have no say, either. Lugia himself has said that Suicune has say over this band until the evil is dispatched, and since it can only be suppressed, I will do as Suicune declares… Even though this means our days of roaming are over."
Indeed, Raikou, Lugina said. I have stated very clearly that Suicune has dominion over your band. Only together do you have power to disrupt the curse if necessary.
Kevin looked at Lugina. Indeed, he thought, they do play the role of the Greater Legends when in the presence of humans. He then looked at Suicune. "Is this decision final?"
"Yes," Suicune said. "You will, however, have to remove two Pokémon from your belt."
Kevin pulled two Pokéballs from his belt, which contained his Golem and Fearow. After transporting them back to his home, he withdrew three Pokéballs from his pouch and held one out to Suicune. "Unless you want me to, I will not catch you by throwing this Pokéball. I'm already too stunned with your decision."
"Do you promise, Kevin, that you will not release us in public unless in the most dire situation?" Suicune asked.
"No, Suicune," Kevin said. "However, I do promise that whatever you wish me to do, I will do so. In otherwords, it won't be the trainer in charge, but the Legends instead."
"Good decision, Kevin," Lance commented. "I'm glad to know that you are still the champion I know of."
"Then throw the Pokéball, Kevin," Suicune said. Kevin nodded and caught Suicune.
Kevin turned to Entei and Raikou. "Do you want me to catch you, or do you want to take residence yourself?" Kevin asked.
"Throw the ball," Raikou and Entei said in unison. They lowered their heads toward the ground and shut their eyes tight as Kevin threw the Pokéballs.
Once the three balls were in his hand, he put them in his belt box. He then looked up at Lance. "Shall we head to Indigo?" he asked, motioning for Lance to grab his hand.
"Gladly," Lance said. He recalled his Dragonite into his Pokéball and grabbed Kevin's hand. They then flew as close as they could to their destination.
* * *
"So that's why you disappeared," Lance said thoughtfully. "The Blade Trainer wouldn't have made anything had you returned without Cevan."
"Indeed," Kevin sighed. "That and I couldn't bear to return as I am now."
Kevin took a quick glance around. The Arena was no longer a small, indoor stadium, but now a larger, outdoor one that could hold 30 trainers with all six Pokémon out and still have room, even if they were Gyrados.
Kevin sighed again. "Amazing what happens to the place when you're gone for nearly ten years," he said in amazement.
"Yes," Lance said, watching Kevin. "It's also amazing what people think of you when you disappear as a famous man."
"True," Kevin agreed. "I still don't understand why you left to hold a position as a Champion."
"People complained," Lance said.
"Lance?" Bruno called as she came in and closed the stadium door behind him. "A media group is here. Also, a man who refuses to go by his real name brought them here."
Kevin glanced over at Bruno. They had quickly gotten reacquainted and were friends again. "What is his other name?" he asked suspiciously.
"Surveyor," Bruno stated.
How did he know I was here? Kevin asked Duo-Cevan.
Beats me, Duo-Cevan said, shrugging.
"It's Warles," Kevin said. "Fine, bring them in. Better now than later to show my face to the world."
Kevin stood up and laughed as he watched cameramen and interviewers dash in the door, look at him, and nearly turned tail. Warles managed to convince them that the creature was Kevin and they once again dashed at him.
"Please, don't crowd around," Kevin said, edging back as they swarmed him. "One question at a time, please. If you attack me with questions, I won't answer them."
Lance laughed. "Still the same as ever with interviews, huh, Kevin?"
"So what was it like to lose your position as Champion?" one interviewer shouted.
"A different question, please," Kevin replied.
The interviewers got a puzzled look. Warles saved them the trouble by asking for them. "How about, 'how did you end up like this?'"
"Well, it started with the rumor of the All-powerful Pokémon…" Kevin explained.
"Are you even more powerful than your own Scyther?" another interviewer asked after Kevin finished answering the previous question.
"Let me put it this way: Ever heard of a Scyther doing this?" Kevin said. He followed up with a display of firing off flamethrower into the air.
"Where's your house located?" a third interviewer asked.
"That's just like asking a celebrity, 'how can I reach your house to bombard you for autographs?' Next question," Kevin said coldly, Lance laughing in the background.
"Did you ever get any legends while traveling in isolation?" another interviewer asked.
"No, and even if I did, would I tell you?" Kevin lied, though rather fiercely.
"I've got a question for the Lost Trainer," Lance said.
Everyone turned toward Lance. "If the Lost Trainer was offered his position again, would he accept it?" he wondered.
Everyone turned back at Kevin. Kevin shook his head. "Lance," He sighed, "Though you were my trusted member when in the Pokémasters' Squadron still existed, you have run Indigo Plateau for longer than I have. In otherwords, it wouldn't mean the same thing if I regained my position."
Everyone, except for Warles, stared in disbelief. A reporter finally shook off the stunned effect. "Are you saying that you're giving up your position?" he asked.
"Giving up? I'm a walking legend!" Kevin said defiantly. "I have never been defeated as a champion, they have a museum in my name, and I'm a partial Pokémon with incredible powers! Do you think I can give up something that easily?!?" Kevin regained his senses and became serious again. "Erm, not to brag, of course."
Lance laughed. "I think you have those bragging rights, Kevin," he said. "After all, we still get ten thousands of visitors in your museum… each day!"
"So what will you do now?" the reporter asked.
"Well, for starters, I'll head back home. Since I no longer have anyone hunting me down, or so I assume, it will be nice to rest for a while. After that, I'll train some more. With Johto to explore, it will be a whole new ballpark. However, I am never taking the position of a Champion again. I may be one unofficially, but as for the real ranks, I'll leave it to the next generation."
"What does Lance think about this?"
"Not much, except that I'm completely glad that my friend is alive," Lance responded. "And since to me he still has champion status, he has permission to enter and leave Indigo at will."
"Thanks, Lance," Kevin said, nodding. "Well, guess I better go now."
Kevin pushed his way past the reporters and flew over the Arena walls. The reporters watched the hybrid fly away before turning to Lance. "Can we ask Lance a few questions?" they began.
Well, we're now known worldwide, the Psychic is gone, and Mewtwo is 'protected,' Kevin said. In addition to that, we have three Legends. Yeah, I think it's time to head home.
Indeed, Duo-Cevan declared. Though it's not the same as going back to your family, at least your glory is mostly restored.
I think we better pay Professor Oak a visit first, though, Kevin commented. Maybe if Ash calls him again, he can tell him about me.
Don't you mean 'us?' Cevan asked. After all, we got through this together!
Yeah, but it would confuse Ash if I told him that Cevan Killbane was Kevin and Duo-Cevan, right? We don't need two heads with split minds!
Both Kevin and Duo-Cevan laughed. After flying so high, Kevin could see his home from his location. Concealed in trees, Kevin then realized that his home stood between Indigo Plateau and the place labeled Mt. Silver.
Home, he thought. Home in the forest. Home at Indigo Plateau. I could've stayed at Indigo, but being a champion wouldn't be the same now. Kevin thought about it for a moment. Now I know precisely what the legends meant.
"Yeee-hah!" Kevin yelled as he dived and sped toward Pallet Town. Without anything to worry about now, he was a free Trainer Pokémon.
Warles stood on the walls of the Arena and watched Kevin fly off. "Kevin, you did it," he said, watching the hybrid become a speck.
He did follow his path, correct? a fairy-like figure said, hidden within Warles's coat.
"Yes," Warles answered. He sighed and turned back toward the stairs into the stands before looking at the figure. "But there's more to it, isn't there?"
The fairy sighed. Only time will tell.