by Kevin
posted June 24, 2001
"About who you're going to choose?" She asked.
"Hai... You see the two boys down there the Ash haired one and the boy with the dark colored eyes?" He said pointing to the two. The ash haired boy extended his hand to help the boy up but he was only knocked over by the other boy. He just got up on his own and smiled.
"Hai I see them both." She said watching a bit mad.
"I like the Ash haired boy but he looks like Hess never serious and he's behind in his fighting skills." He told her. "At this rate he will not be able to past my physical test..."
"Why don't you help him?" She asked him as she smiled.
"I could..." He said with a slight smile. "I do not like the other boy his attitude is not right for the job you need to have a heart." He said.
Down below Kevin dusted himself off and smiled, he thought back to his father and what his father had told him. `Always look to the brighter side of things Kev always believe you can do it but bend the rules sometimes test your limits enjoy life. And if someone is hurt and someone needs help you be their for them and if they don't want your help there is no harm in helping still.' He could almost see his fathers face but then he remembered how he had died and his smile fell to a frown.
"What is bothering you little one?" A monstrous hawk said. He was the trainer of the fighting class Kev knew him somewhat.
"I was just thinking about my father... He died last summer." Kev explained.
"Hai I'm guessing it wasn't something you were expecting."
"No, a man killed him because he was protecting me. I hadn't done anything wrong neither had my father he had done nothing to deserve it." He said with a clutched fist.
"If you have no father then how did you end up here?"
"I... I don't know." He said thinking back.
"I see was your father strong young one?"
"Hai he was but the other man was much stronger."
"Then you must get stronger Magic dose not work on every one and if you come across him you shall have all rights to kill him for killing your father."
"Iie! I can't do that. Even if he did kill my father I cannot simply kill him. I want a reason for what he did. These days people are under spells and they do strange things."
"What if he wasn't under one what if he just wanted to kill?"
"Then if that is true I will seek his death." He said boldly. The hawk went to nip at him and he jumped back and out of the way. "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to personally train you I like you your smarter then the rest. I see your fast but you have to be stronger." He said. He reached out and took the boy gingerly in his Talons. This time the boy didn't resist but he let the bird take him. "Your also smart." He said as they were in the air.
About 6 years later the boys had grown quite a bit but there were fewer and fewer left. No longer boys of 12 but men of 18 and from 20 down to just 5. And all knew that one of them would finish first the others would go home like the others had. The matches were harder this time and the magic was even more deadly so matches against others were very few. Kev was one of the few that had survived this long thought his looks had changed his hair was long and shoulder length he usually kept it in a pony tail his eye's were a deeper blue and he had grown much wiser and much stronger. Though he still never looked it until he was truly serious. He usually took quite a beating from the others some times but he never went down he never failed. He always learned from his errors he was also fast. Coronus watched as he made his way threw the series of tests that was the final few tests. He smiled as the boy excelled in everything there was, there was just one boy that wanted to bet him no matter what the cost. There was just one test left this would show Coronus just who he could trust and who was only doing this to be the better. On the path there was a small Child who was lost hurt and hungry. Kevin was behind the others as he had taken quite a beating earlier. The first man paused at the child and offered him food for he had plenty and the child ate but as soon as he had seen the second man he took off. The second man did not even stop for the child. The third stopped to give the boy water and to ask how far behind he was. The fourth only paused for a minute but seeing the last one catching up he ran on. The fifth was Kevin, he stopped though his food was low from the others stealing from him, he offered the boy food and water. Once seeing the boy was also lost and probably far from home he picked the child up carefully and walked the trail the boy had come from and he managed to end up at the real Finish line instead of the start with the others. Coronus smiled seeing Kevin walk across the finish line with the child, the child was suddenly healed and she jumped from Kevin's arms and changed into a talk and beautiful woman.
"Congratulations Kevin you are the only one to finish." She said. He blinked.
"But how? I was last all's I did was what my father would have wanted me to do." He said.
"What was it he always told you?" She asked.
"If someone is hurt and someone needs help you be there for them and if they don't want your help there is no harm in helping still." He said remembering his father's words.
"Your father was a wise man." She said. "Follow me you are now going to meet Coronus and gain your power as the Pluto Knight." She said.
"Yes, he was a wise man, I miss him sometimes..." He said following the woman.
"I know you do. Every one misses their family, especially those who have passed on Kevin." She said. He nodded and soon they arrived in a large room where Coronus sat on a giant throne he was a giant man dressed in royal robes his face looked hard but his eyes danced with life.
"Welcome Young Kevin I congratulate you." He said he slowly stood up and even Kev at 6'2" had to look up at him. "You proved your worth to me young Kevin, your physical skills have greatly surpassed those of the others. Your magic skills have always greatly surpassed everyone else. Your kindness has touched every one with your sacrifice and caring for others." There was a sudden disturbance and both turned to see the first place boy the one who hated Kevin with a passion because he had become better then him. Kev turned and was shocked, the boy's face changed and Kev knew exactly who he was.
"YOU!" The Man yelled. "I SPENT ALL THIS TIME TRAINING TO GET WHERE YOU ARE GOING AND NOW YOU! GET IT? I TRIED TO KILL YOU ONCE BUT YOUR FATHER SAVED YOU! NOW YOU MUST DIE!!" He all out attacked Kev who fought back with all he had. Spells were cast back and forth between the two. Coronus was not happy with the man who had snuck his way into his court and had dared to start a fight with the man he had chosen to be the Knight of Pluto.
"Kevin catch!" Coronus said tossing him a ring the symbol of Pluto glowed brightly and flied towards Kevin. Somehow it knew that it belonged to Kevin because the other man tried to grab it and it flew up and over his head and into Kev's hand. He looked at it strangely as he dogged an attack, Coronus sweat dropped for the first time since he had meet the goofy Kevin. He started to wonder how he did it all and yet never once become too serious. "Put it on!" He yelled. Kevin slipped it on his finger where it glowed brightly covering him in a green light when the light faded away Kev stood there in a dark colored robe with ancient symbols all over it and chain mail over top of the robe and the sword of Pluto at his side. He looked at the man with a very serious look.
"You can no longer take this from me. You killed my father for your own selfish reasons now you will have to pay the price, not only for that but also for trying to deceive the King of Pluto! And I The Pluto Knight have all rights to punish you." Kev said. His voice was bolder and he for once was very serious. "PLUTO DEATH TORNADO!" He said from the tip of his sword a Tornado formed flying strait at the man who was sucked in and ultimately destroyed. Kev fell to one knee and transformed back into him self. His first battle was hard but he knew he could only improve. He looked up at the King and smiled slightly before passing out.
"He deserves some rest... Take him to the room at the gates of time." Coronus ordered. Two men came out and carried the sleeping knight away. "Kevin Natio... you will be the Knight of Pluto from now until the day you are killed or the end of time it's self." He said quietly watching him being carried off.
Kevin awoke in a rather large room he felt tired still but he knew he couldn't rest for ever he now had a job to do. He stretched, and felt his new powers surging threw him, he felt the existence of time it's self-running threw him. He stood up and heard Coronus call him to his throne room. Instead of trying to figure out how to get there he simply thought of the place and he teleported there. The King smiled upon seeing him using his new powers, Kevin bowed to him. "You called your majesty?" he said.
"Yes, now that you are finally the Pluto Knight there are a few things you must know about your powers. This is the Golden Key the first Key to the gates of time. I am giving it to you to keep." He said placing the gold chain around his neck with the gold key on it. "Second of all, you will be able to foresee the future but not by more then a Century. You must keep the future beautiful although it may seem like a curse after some time but it's not. It's a gift that you will live with and learn to uses with skill. Third off your new powers are the strongest even I cannot do anything to surpass yours now that you have been blessed with them from all the planets. But even you must never break taboo uses your powers wisely. If anything were to happen to you before your time is up and you have no heir to the gates then you will be reborn 20 years before you die and once you do die you will just regain your powers and memories. But! This can only occur once so be wise about it." He warned Kevin
"I understand your majesty. I may look like a fool but a fool I am not. I should return to the gates and start to fix anything that might go wrong or stop any one from breaking taboo. I realize the penalty is death for breaking it." He said. He sounded very serious but his face did not look it. He Grinned and then skipped off literally slowly fading into a teleport to the gates of time.
After some time Kev figured out exactly how to read the time line and exactly how to fix things that weren't right. He learned things that he should know and things that were going on not only on Pluto but also on Mercury, Venus, Earth, the Earth's moon, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. He was easily tired out from fixing things at first but then he got better at it. The other problem was watching for people who found their way to the Gates of time that weren't hidden as well as they should have been. He earned quite a few battle scars that way.
About a century after Kev had become the guardian of the gates of time the princess of Pluto was born the first one ever. Kev knew that she would bring about changes he had actually wore a tuxedo when her coronation as the first princess to be born to the King and Queen of Pluto. That day his life would change as well He was going to lose his job with in 18 years and he would start being pushed out of peoples minds, not that he already was. But still he did his best to be impressive as he was older then anyone around over 1000 years of age and he still looked about 19 or 20. Unfortunately the whole time the Knight was ignored. His heart dropped like a rock as he sat outside in the garden on a bench by a pond alone no one had even bothered to say hello the whole night not even the king.
"There you are Kev!" A familiar voice said. Kev didn't react he just sat there looking up at the sky he could see Neptune not far away as it mad it's normal pass into the furthest planet orbit. "Kev? Man in all these years I never once seen you look so sad..." He said sitting next to Kev.
"Go away please Nickolas..."Kev's gloomy voice said. Nickolas almost fell off the bench hearing him talk to drearily, it wasn't like him, Kev was always the happy one there was only a few things that ever got him down, near death, no doughnuts, and no one who cared for him.
"I never leave a friend who is feeling down. Now what is bothering my good friend?" He asked.
"It's already started Nickolas I've been forgotten..." He said looking up he had this distant look in his eyes the way he did whenever he taped into the time and space continuum. Nickolas fwapped him upside his head, snapping Kev out of it. "Owww what did you do that for?" Kev asked rubbing his head.
"I know what you were thinking! You know I'll always be here for you and you're missing all the hot chicks in there!" He said. Kev looked at him oddly. "That's it you're coming with me." He said He grabbed Kev by his shirt and then dragging him across the garden yelling all the way. "Oh be quiet," He said dropping Kev. "Your such a big baby Kev."
"Am not!"
"Are So!"
"Am Not!"
"So!"
"Not!"
"So!"
"Not, not, not!"
"So, so, so!"
"I am not!" Kev said jumping to his feet.
"Then prove it."
"WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE?" On of the kings men bellowed as he walked out side. "WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?" He bellowed. Both looked at him like children who were guilty but trying to be innocent as possible to get out of it.
"He's Kevin Natio and I'm Nickolas Muscovite." Nick said.
"Am I supposed to know who you two are? I am a knight of Pluto and I do not want to hear the disrespect from you two childish boys." The knight yelled. Fed up with this Kevin walked up to the man almost mad that this man would call himself a knight.
"You listen here Mister I am over a thousand years old I and I AM THE KNIGHT OF PLUTO!" Kev declared. The man stumbled back clearly frightened seeing Kev had transformed while he yelled into the Knight with his sword now drawn the symbol of Pluto glowing. He had heard bout the master Knight the only true knight of Pluto, but no one had seen him in years. Now here he was standing in front of him looking very menacing. It was no wonder only the bravest and fiercest creatures even dared to try and face him. Nick sweat dropped watching this all and grabbed Kev's arm to hold him back.
"Now, now, we mustn't lose our temper." He told Kev pulling him back. "He gets very mad when someone try's to seem inferior to him when they should know who he is." Nick said. The man nodded and ran into the Castle obviously afraid. "OK Calm down and detransform your scarring me and other people, and put that sword away." He said. Kev took a deep breath and sheathed his sword slowly and changed back into Kev in the same silly green black tux.
"I hate tuxes." He muttered. Nick burst out laughing and Kev slightly smiled.
"You know you are something else Kev, something totally different." He said slapping Kev on the back, who then fell forwards having lost his balance and crashed into the floor. "Kev?! Dude you OK?" Nick asked crouching next to his friend. Kev muttered something. "What was that?" He asked leaning closer to Kev who jumped up and pushed Nick's forehead so he fell backwards into the ground losing his balance. Kev laughed sitting there Indian style. "That was mean."
"That was the point. Is there any good food in there?" He asked looking at the open door.
"Yup it's a royal party... wait I say we raid my frig at home!" Both jumped to their feet.
"TO REAL FOOD!" Both yelled and with that they raced to Nick's house not far away. His frig was always stocked with the best foods ever. Both were now stuck in the doorframe of his house trying to get inside first and neither budging. "Come one MOVE!" they both yelled at each other.
"OK you steep back and I'll steep forwards causing us to get unstuck." Kev said.
"No way you'll get there first and clean me out!" Nick said.
They both turned sideways and fell to the floor. Both Jumped up and pushed their way to the Frig. They found it full and not to much later both sat at the table stomachs full, shirts un tucked, and a mess, ties loose, leaning back, feet on the table, shoes off, looking quite happy.
"That was good..." Kev said.
"Oh yeah we on for tomorrow night?"
"I'm not sure... Something is trying to disturb the timeline again."
"That sucks... Hey Kev do you ever wonder what the future really holds for us?"
"I know what it holds for you but for me? I can never see it..."
"That has to bite..."
"It does."
"Kev can you promise to be my best friend until the day I die?" Kev looked at him.
"I promise you Nick..." Kev said. His eye welled up with tears thinking bout it.
"Don't cry on me man. It's still a long ways away!" He said.
"True..." Kev said. He sighed and stood up. "Well, it's off to work I go."
"See yah dude."
And with that was the last good by they would ever say to each other as to get to Kev Nick was killed that night. Kev Never felt so alone the next day he couldn't think strait he couldn't even bring himself to stand tall at the gates when he felt it occur. Who changed the history? Who had killed his only friend so soon? His tears flowed freely over his face and down his chin splat against his robe. He didn't know how fast time had passed him as he sat there but it was close to 17 years before he had stopped mourning his friends death. He had been sure to visit the grave of his friend whose wish was to be buried in the garden by the castle. Kev made sure that wish was fulfilled.
"Who are you?" A Soft voice said as he stood by the grave. He turned to look at the young woman with long green hair like the first Queen of Pluto wearing the Princess Dress.
"I am no one... Please forget you saw me young Princess." Kev said he turned to walk off.
"Was he your friend? I see you come visit every year after my birthday looking especially sad that was the day he passed away isn't it?" She asked.
"Please it's not safe for you out here." He said. "They are still out there and they will be after any one who gets close to me, they did it once I'm sure they will do it again to see me suffer."
"Who would be so cruel? You seem so nice and so alone..."
"Princess, it would be wise for you to go now they are here..." Kev said. He took a defensive stand feeling them so near. "GO NOW!" He yelled.
She went wide-eyed and ran. She wasn't fast enough as Kev followed her and ended up getting stabbed in the right leg blocking the fallen princess from being killed. She looked at him scared, She got up and Ran again not looking back as Kev released his powers on the 2 yomas sent to attack him and the princess. Kev fell to the ground and slowly pulled the sword out. The pain was immense as it was covered with poisons that was flowing at a fast rate threw his body.
"I can't die not now..." He told himself as he slowly sat upright the pain shot up threw him the dizziness set in. He fumbled for the small bottle on his belt. "Why did it have to be so small...?" He said. His eyesight was going he couldn't see clearly any more.
"Which one is it? Let me help." The princess said to him.
"The small red one with the green cork top." He said. His body was starting to seas up. He felt delicate fingers touch his side and undo the string holding the bottle. He heard her open the cork and the coolness of the bottle touch his lips and the hot bitter liquid enter his mouth and go down his throat. He could feel the pain dull away and warmth spreading threw out his body.
"How do you feel?" She asked.
"Better though... I can't see..." He said softly.
"Then you should come with me to the hospital wing."
"No! I'll be fine it's only temporary. Thank you, but you should go back your self, I dare not let them think that you are my friend in any way, it would endanger your life more then it is now."
"I can handle my self I am 17-"
"And I am 1035, but look at me, I'm alone and temporarily blind, I have a duty to do." Kev said slowly standing up. He felt weak and drained of his natural energy.
"Your in no shape to do any job what ever it may be, now you are coming with me. Besides your leg looks really bad, don't be afraid to lean on me a little." She said as she put her arm around his waist and his arm around her shoulder and started to lead him towards the Castle.
"Your a lot like Queen Pluto the first queen of this planet." Kev said softly.
"How would you know her?"
"I'm old enough to know her."
"How are you so old?"
"I'm a Knight."
"There are lots of knights on Pluto."
"No, they are knights of the castle."
"What do you mean?"
"I am the Knight of Pluto..."
"You are the legendary Pluto Knight? The same man who saved the whole solar system twice in his life, defender of the Gates of time?"
"Yes, that would be me."
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you then, and I thank you for saving me."
"It's part of the job, Protect, save, make sure the innocent stay innocent." His eyes became teary. "I couldn't save him though..." He said softly.
"Couldn't you just go back and save him?"
"No, that would be breaking taboo. Even I have rules to abide to, I can't go changing the past it's to late. He's better off he died quickly."
"I see come on we are at the steeps." She said she watched tears of hurt roll down his cheek. His aqua eyes were glazed over but the pain was still there. But she could see what he once was, a happy young man who had a very good friend who helped him enjoy life. "This is the last steep." She told him as he steeped up the last steep. Two guards came rushing over to her and knocked Kev to the ground.
"Oww..." Kev said from the ground, his leg was a bloody mess his eyes glazed over he could not tell what was happening but he could hear it. Two Guards came over thinking he was doing something to the princess. The pain in his leg was strong he did not have a healing salve on him so he could not heal it up.
"Leave him alone, he's hurt I was taking him to the hospital wing he saved me." He heard her say. The guards did not seem to like it this strange blind man wearing strange robes that were bloody being anywhere's near their princess. "Come on... umm..." She didn't even know his name.
"Kevin, but please just call me Kev." He said softly. She helped him to his feet again.
"Come on Kev I'll get you to the hospital wing." She said.
She led him inside where the 2 guards held the door open for her. She lead him to the wing where he was quickly taken to the back to be stitched up and cleaned up and given something to help clear his eyes up. She was told to come back in an hour when they would be done, so she went to wash up herself. When she came back the nurses were surprised to see her. She asked about the man she had brought there about an hour ago. They didn't know bout any man that was brought here. They brought her to the back where all they found was an old bloody robe but no trace of the person who had been wearing it. It was like he had vanished as if they never were there in the first place.