"I praise your Neanderthal intelligence. Now would you mind taking a step to the left."
"Who do you think? Abraham Lincoln?"
Protector of Silence
Chapter Forty-Two - The beginning of the end
Hey, ya hear me?
...
...If ya can, say somethin'!
...
...You can speak, but you do nat...
...You're a pure so'l. Purer than most...people used to say I was pure so'l too...
...
...I grew up in a par'dise. An island in t'e endless sea. When t'e sun rose un' set, t'e sea would becom' t'e sky - flashing bright wit' calours of red un' gold. But evil, it tried to take away ma par'dise. It even laid its cold fingers on ma father...
...
...I thought I sta'pped it in me own lifetime - I dedicated ma whole life ta removin' it from ma home. But, now it seems it's creepin' back, when I'm not around to sta'p it...
...
...You've been up against ya own evil - Hajime, is it? And ya've a whole lat more to face before ya rest soundly like I did...till now. Yar journey is far from over, Hajime. Ya path still has many a'bstacles to cross and forks ya have to chose from. Irrevarsible and fatal decisions w'll be made, and you alone must 'elp others to carry that burden. Ya have a great battle ahead of ya, and it'll be sure to come for ya when you least expect it...
...
...You still asleep? Huh. Well, time ta wake up Hajime. You've got someone ta meet...
'Who was that?' Was the first question on Kellyn's mind.
"Oi! Kel! You sleepin' on the job?!"
"Ugh...Keith, go away" Was the first thing he said. ...er, groaned.
When he got no reply, Kellyn opened his eyes, shading them from the evening sun with one arm. Looming almost directly above him was Keith, who blinked twice before his usual cocky grin came back onto his face.
"Wakey wakey, rise and shine Snoozy!" he grinned "It's really weird hearing you speak, ya know."
'Hence why I only talk to the kids' Kellyn almost said.
When they'd come back they'd announced to their fellow students the fake story that his muteness was just one big joke, he'd gotten two reactions. Most accepted the joke and dubbed Keith 'The Ultimate King of Pranking' as the story said Keith was the one to come up with the joke - but some like Rhythmi and Isaac doubted the story, that Kellyn knew. However they'd all agreed to keep it secret from the most likely less amused adults - and that to Kellyn was enough.
But that was what Kellyn almost said. What he really said was: "Wonderful. I praise your Neanderthal intelligence. Now would you mind taking a step to the left."
Keith frowned at the bizarre order but did so anyway. Kellyn smiled with contentment as Keith's head blocked the sun from his eyes and allowed him to close his eyes without feeling lightheaded. It took Keith a while to realise he was being used as a human shield against Ra's power.
"Hey! I'm not being used as your literal sunscreen, Kel!" he complained as it clicked, promptly sitting down in the grass next to him in a sulk.
Kellyn groaned with annoyance as his face was once again left exposed to the ultraviolet rays. The heat was unbearable - he blamed global warming, Kate blamed Arceus, and Keith just blamed everything else.
"You done your Maths homework?" said 'blame everything else-er' inquired.
Kellyn wrinkled his nose. "When's it due for?"
"Thursday, I think. Or it might be Friday."
Kellyn sighed. "I'll do it tomorrow."
He could practically feel Keith's grin. "Oh, Kel! What's this?! Has finding your inner voice, literally, encouraged you to become a rebel?!"
"Oh shut up!" Kellyn growled "I'm tired! And I hate helicopters!"
Keith winced at the tone of Kellyn's voice, starting to worry about what type of person innocent little Kellyn was going to turn into. But he had to agree with him on the second one: the helicopter ride to Ranger School from Kanto (apparently where they'd crashed) yesterday, was not something to be desired when in turbulence.
"Ah. Point taken" Keith just agreed. He then stood up and stretched, cracking his back in the process. "Well, time to get my arm wrestling champion badge back from Liam - can't believe the idiot thought I was dead when we went missing!"
And with that the ginger took his leave.
'Finally' Kellyn thought with contentment, as he slowly drifted back off to sleep, hoping that accented voice wouldn't disturb him again.
Fingers clicked.
Kellyn bolted upright. He was no longer lying on the grass of the slope beside Ranger School. This place was nothing, just a white and misty endless limbo. The Betwixt and Between?
"What is this?" he breathed "Am I...dreaming?"
"Not exactly, but you are asleep."
Kellyn, startled, turned his head to the sound of a voice he recognised. He saw someone walking out of the mist and rose to greet them. But then he frowned. He knew the person who had stopped about two metres away from him.
"Starlight!" he growled "You! How dare you come to us!"
"So, you found your voice" Starlight smiled like he hadn't heard the warning tone in Kellyn's voice "I'm glad. I didn't want you silenced forever on my account."
"Stop speaking in riddles!" Kellyn snarled "I know you handed us over to Hunter J in return for something!"
"For Solana's safety" Starlight explained "She was the one I was really concerned about."
"I don't care!" Kellyn shot back "The bottom line is you betrayed us!"
"For reasons you have yet to understand!" Starlight argued.
"Then you do admit to betraying us!" Kellyn snapped.
Starlight then did something Kellyn had never expected from him. His hand shot out and grasped Kellyn's neck in nothing short of a death grip.
"You have yet to understand my logic!" Starlight growled "I was chased and hunted for years, and made the ultimate sacrifice! Do you think it was easy for me to turn that sacrifice back on itself?!"
"What are you talking about?!" Kellyn spluttered, trying to not cause a violent reaction out of Starlight that could possible get him strangled.
"I mean, take Luna for example!" Starlight tried to explain "Your bond with her is to be marvelled at, but would you give her up for the sake of your friends, family, your brother and sister?!"
"What do you know about Lunick and Solana?!" Kellyn was starting to feel his skin burn with anger. How dare a traitor refer to his noble brother and sister!
"I know everything about them!" Starlight replied "I grew up along side them!"
"Lies!" Kellyn hissed "I don't even know who you really are!"
"I'm telling you!" was Starlight's answer.
"Just who are you Starlight?!"
"I'M TELLING YOU!"
Kellyn paused after Starlight's yell. The white-haired boy sounded genuine as he panted whilst keeping the death grip on Kellyn's neck. The brunet boy then looked down and noticed that Starlight really was telling him something. He wasn't gripping Kellyn's neck, rather than the necklace by which his locket hung.
Kellyn slowly reached his hand up and held the locket, causing Starlight to let go and take a step back. Unclasping the locket catch, Kellyn wasn't sure what he expected to see. But everything was normal. Just the two pictures of Lunick and Solana. Then his eyes started looking between the pictures in the locket and Starlight. No...that was impossible...wasn't it?
"You" he breathed "How? What? Why? You can't..." He trailed off.
"As Solana always said: I can make anything happen, possible or impossible" Starlight smiled.
He took a few steps back, and with every step his form seemed to change slightly. He appeared to grow about five inches taller. His hair shortened so it probably would've been close to shoulder-length if a headband hadn't kept it up. His Ranger School uniform morphed into that of an Ringtown Ranger. Finally, his hair and eye colour changed so they were midnight blue and aqua respectively. Kellyn almost choked on a gasp, seeing the person in front of him, the real form of Starlight.
"L-Lunick?" he breathed.
The ex-ranger smiled and nodded. "You've grown a lot since we were last able to see each other alone in true form. You have no idea how proud of you I am."
"I-I don't understand" Kellyn breathed "How could you... I mean...why?"
"Why, you ask?" Lunick smiled "Now I'm no good at long winded explanations so bear with me here." He paused before beginning. "It goes something like this. As Hunter J told you, I gave you most of my abilities in the months leading up to when I died. Most of them. Two I kept with me though. One to change my form, and another to see the future."
"To...see the future?" Kellyn asked.
"Yes" Lunick nodded "I knew how painful that power would be for you, so I kept it for myself to protect you. But this meant I could see everything that lay ahead in store for me, you, for everyone."
"Everything?" Kellyn asked. Lunick nodded. "Including your death?"
"Yes" Lunick sighed "I knew what would happen. I could have fled the village earlier, but I didn't. I knew what the future had in store for you, and I couldn't bring myself to change time to save myself at that cost. Part of your future involved crossing paths with Hunter J, more than once. That woman had been after me for years, believing I was the child in that prophecy. I regret to say this isn't that last time you cross Hunter J. The final clash between you two isn't for many years yet. But anyway, I saw that the two of you would meet, and I began to fear for you. I had suspicions that she had Solana, and I knew she was coming after you too. I couldn't bare for either of you to get hurt. So I changed my form into that of a young amnesic boy, Starlight, and watched you both." He face fell into a sorrowful expression "I never wanted to hurt you Kellyn, and it pained me to watch you as you believed you had been betrayed. I hope you can forgive me."
"Lunick..." Kellyn gave a small smile "You can see the future, what does it tell you?" Lunick smiled also.
"Thank you, Kellyn" he smiled, before looking up at the never-ending white sky and sighing "And now I must go."
"Go?" Kellyn asked, feeling crestfallen "Already?"
"I've already used up more of my allotted time than I should have" Lunick sighed.
"W-Will we meet again?" Kellyn asked nervously.
"I hope so Kellyn" Lunick gave a small nod "I hope so."
"How?"
"Hey, don't worry, I'll make it work!" Lunick shot him a cheeky smile "You're talking to someone who can plot, plan or plead his way out of anything!"
"Yeah, but I'm also talking to someone who manages to trip over his own shoe laces - when they're tied!" Kellyn added. Lunick threw back his head and laughed full-heartedly.
"Betcha Luna told you about that" Lunick smiled "But even if we don't meet again, for a very long time, I don't think you really need me anymore. You have your family in Kate, Luna, Keith, Rhythmi, Sparks and Shadow. They're your true family now." He smiled "Don't spend your days mourning the dead, or else you won't be able to take your place among the living."
As he raised his hand in farewell, Lunick dissolved into the mist. Then the white slowly began to fade around Kellyn and the silence ended.
Kellyn slowly opened his eyes, letting them adjust to the outdoors. Somewhere, a Starly was chirping out a peaceful song as the wind blew. He gave a long sigh, he felt content. He no longer hated Starlight and he could finally let his brother's spirit rest in peace.
"Kellyn?"
Kellyn sat up and looked over his shoulder. On the fridge of the forest, Sparks was standing between two bushes, looking like something was on his mind.
'Oh, hello, Sparks' Kellyn thought, smiling warmly 'You look like you've got something to say.'
"Yes" Sparks nodded "I need to tell you something."
'You're leaving, aren't you?' Kellyn asked.
Sparks paused and then nodded. Kellyn gave an unhappy sigh. He had hoped the rumours spreading around the Pokémon that the Luxray was leaving had been false, but now he was going to have to face the fact his friend was leaving.
"I wish to find my pack again, I have family there I am sworn to protect" Sparks explained.
Kellyn nodded. 'Just don't forget us, will you?'
"A Luxray never forgets its pack"
Kellyn again nodded 'We'll meet again, won't we?'
"Just call for me, and I'll be at your side."
'I know' Kellyn smiled 'When do you leave?'
"Now. I wanted to say goodbye."
Again Kellyn felt down-heartened. He had at least hoped to spend one last day with Sparks, or even wait until...
'My graduation is in a month, will you come for it?' he asked.
"I would never miss such an important date" the Luxray agreed "Now I must take my leave."
'Wait!'
Kellyn shuffled over to Sparks. He reached his hand up and unclasped his locket. He stared in amazement. The pictures of Lunick and Solana were gone. Instead they had been replaced with two other pictures: one of him with Luna curled around his shoulders and another of Kate with Shadow in her arms. He understood what he had to do. He took a deep breath, unfastened the clasp, removed the locket from around his neck and tied it around Sparks'. The Luxray brushed the item with his paw that sparked with electricity upon impact, making the locket unclasp itself so Sparks could stare at the two pictures. He let it hang again and it almost mystically closed.
'Take it' Kellyn told him 'Take it so you'll never forget us.'
Sparks purred and rubbed his head against Kellyn. Then he turned to leave, but stopped amongst the trees and looked back.
"Kellyn. What is your pack name?"
'Pack name?' What was that supposed to mean?
"Your pack name. I hear humans have two names. A name to be called by, and a pack name. Like your friend Kate, her pack name is Hitomi. You friend Keith's is Dazaru."
'Oh you mean surname. Oh, er...' Normally Kellyn would have said Solluna without a query, but after hearing Lunick's last words to him, he no longer felt sure.
"Soon, that name will become important to you again. Owari means end, but Hajime means beginning. Never forget that."
'Hajime.'
"Hajime?"
'Yes, Hajime. Kellyn Hajime. It means "beginning".'
"I see" Sparks nodded "Well then, farewell, Kellyn Hajime."
The Luxray then turned and bounded out of sight into the trees.
Kellyn watched the forest for a few seconds before lying down on the slope again, crossing his arms behind his head. He gave a long sigh. He felt better now. He had given Sparks his locket and he no longer carried the burden of the legacy of his brother and sister. He had even changed his name, and it suited him to the last syllable. He was turning the page, putting the past behind him and starting a new beginning. A new time, a new family, a new life.
Knock, knock.
"Kate! Are you in?"
Dinner had ended, but most of the students had stayed behind for profiteroles with chocolate sauce. Kellyn had declined the offer, instead going to see Kate - who he knew didn't like profiteroles.
The knock on the girls' dorm's door was answered by plenty of crashing and a: "J-Just a minute!"
'Just a minute' was actually only about 30 seconds really, before he heard: "Who is it?!"
Kellyn pushed the door open with a teasing smile. "Who do you think? Abraham Lincoln?"
Kate grinned back. "Oh dear - we were lead to believe you wore a beard and a top hat. Now we'll have to change that picture of you in the International History Book."
Kellyn shook his head, why he wasn't sure, but he was still smiling. "Oh what sense of humour you have."
As Kate giggled at the statement, Kellyn noticed she was sitting right back against the wall on her bottom bunkbed, both her hands behind her back.
He frowned. "Are you hiding something?"
"W-What?!" Kate stammered, a way too innocent smile on her face "W-What are you talking about?!"
Kellyn folded his arms. "Alright, what's wrong?"
Kate looked surprised. "Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
"Yeah right - tell me."
"I'm serious!"
"Don't lie to me Kate!"
"I'm not lying!"
Kellyn snorted. "Of course, you're just being 'magonigal with the truth', as you say."
"It's 'economical', and I'm not" Kate corrected him.
Kellyn couldn't help but feel hurt. "Why won't you tell me? Have I done something wrong?"
Kate looked shocked. "What?! No! No, you've done nothing wrong!"
"Then why won't you tell me?!" Kellyn complained, his blue-green eyes obviously showing how hurt he was. Kate immediately felt bad and ducked her head down so she wouldn't be forced to look at him. "Please?"
That begging plea finally broke the ice. Kate heaved a sigh before bringing something out from behind her pillow that she'd been sitting against and giving it to Kellyn. To him, it looked like a tangle of blue, green and silver string with shells entangled into it, attached to a black box with a hook on it's end.
"Dare I ask?" he inquired.
"I-It's a dreamcatcher" Kate explained, her head still ducked but now with embarrassment "I-I made it myself. It spins, see."
She took it from her friend and held it in the air, and Kellyn could now clearly see it was three dreamcatchers on strings with small seashells dangling down around them. She held the dreamcatcher by the box's hook and then flicked a switch on the box. Kellyn heard the whirring of a small motor and the dreamcatcher slowly began to turn, little beads within it sparkling in the setting sunlight.
"You made this? For me?" Kellyn was stunned. In reply, Kate blushed and handed him the dreamcatcher back. "W-Why?"
Kate looked confused for a second, but then put on a small smile. "Happy birthday."
Happy birthday?
That was when Kellyn realised it - his birthday (or, at least, the day nominated as his birthday due to the estimate he was born in the month of May) was May 11th. Today was May 13th. His birthday was two days ago. What had he been doing two days ago? Then he felt crestfallen: he'd spent the day of May 11th with Keith, blindfolded and locked away as Hunter J's prisoner; and the night of his birthday he'd seen his friends turned into statues and almost died. Some twelfth birthday he'd had.
"I know no one else remembers" Kate told him "But I was making this before it all happened, it was supposed to be a surprise. Keith helped - he got all the material for me. Rhythmi too - she made the dreamcatchers. I put them on the strings with the shells and worked out how to make it spin. We knew you didn't have any real family, but, well, I guess we tried to show you that you didn't have to be alone."
Kellyn's knees went weak, and he knew he needed to sit down. He shakily sat down on the edge of Kate's bed, clutching the dreamcatcher in his hands, and the ginger slid over to sit beside him.
"Kelly, you okay?" she asked, clearly concerned.
Kellyn bit his lip. "I-I can't really explain it."
Kate gently gripped his hand, offering him a comforting smile. "Can you try?"
He turned his head to look at her, and for a second she found he looked older, wiser and more mature than she'd ever seen him before. But then his troubled look faded into a small smile, and the innocent little Kellyn she knew was back.
"It...well...it's you, Kate."
Kate blinked. "Me? What for?"
"I… I don't know exactly" He took a deep breath "But whenever I'm not around you, I think about you all the time. When you're close by, I feel happy. When Hunter J tried to hurt you… I couldn't stand it. I tried to stop her, but…" He took a shuddering breath, and she realised he wasn't able to continue that.
She squeezed his hand. "I-I know how you feel."
Kellyn's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at that. Kate giggled - it was almost quite comical. "Really?"
"Uh-huh" she nodded "The whole time I was captured, I couldn't stop worrying about you. When I saw Hunter J calling you out, I knew I just had to stop her - your heartbroken look hurt me too." She bit her lip. "When I thought you'd died… I… "
Kellyn realised she was shaking as tears started gathering in her eyes.
"Kate" he swallowed, drawing her close and wrapping his arms around her. He remember the way Lark had calmed him in the Betwixt and Between, doing exactly that and letting Kate compose herself.
"I...I don't..." Kellyn tried to find something to say, but the words just couldn't come to him. And then, something did - a question he'd been too nervous to ask. "Is that love?"
Kate removed her face from his school jumper and looked up at his uncertain face with glistening ice-blue eyes and the bravest of smiles. "That, or something like it."