Chapter 182 Another Victoria
Ash and Acerola are now at the counter and the person at the counter is Simon.
Simon: Good to see you again, Ash. There's a new report today- an unusual one. No sign of Legendaries, no portals, no anomalies... But I think you'll agree that it is a matter of immediate concern that, uhm. Apparently that teacher down at Apophyll Academy- Kiki? She's back.
Ash: (Shocked) Are you kidding me? Kiki's back?! I thought she was killed!
Simon: She's been holding sermons regularly for a little bit now. Victoria only just found out herself and headed out already. But I've got a feeling someone might wanna check on her.
Acerola: A revival of a person who was killed...that sounds interesting.
Then Ash and Acerola rush to Apopyll Academy, and they find Victoria as they are now at the Traning Ground, much to their surprise, there is another Victoria standing in front of them. And she has Umbral Energy beside her.
Victoria: So, you heard the rumors too? That Kiki is back. And what a crowd she drew. This turnout is easily double or triple any lecture I gave. But what I really want to know... Is why... Why does she look like- Why does she look like me?!
Ash: It was just like the void...
Ash remembers how he was dragged into the void and met Victoria, but she tells him that her name is Kiki instead.
Kiki: And break. As you continue meditating, you will inevitably find thoughts and feelings bubble to the surface. Though with practice the frequency decreases, this is only normal. Acknowledge that you have had the thought or feeling, and then return your mind to a neutral state. It is all too easy and common to be swept away in the tide of one's impulsive cognition, but there is no need to swim or struggle. Let the thoughts wash around you, and then recede as you firmly maintain your ground. We will begin again; please practice this. Remember, for beginners, it is okay to focus on your breathing rather than simply trying to think of nothing. (Notices Ash and the others) I see we have new guests in the back as well. If you'd like, you may sit and join us in meditation, and if you'd prefer to simply observe for today that's okay as well. Now, silence.
Victoria: This is creepy and weird and I don't like it. I'm not a "guest," I'm supposed to- Ugh, and why does she look like me?! And why does she know her lectures, and talk like her? If this is someone's idea of a joke, I hate it more than anything!
Kiki: Our guests in the back should remain quiet so that the students may concentrate.
Victoria: I got that a lot when I first came here too. But this is so wrong! Kiki is- I could just-...Okay, no. She's right. Before anything, I need to calm myself down. And as much as I'd like to march up there and give her a piece of my mind here and now, I don't think we can really get to her with all these people in the way. I will gather myself and wait.
Ash: (Looks at the crowd) That one in the middle isn't focusing. Twelve o'clock, next to that girl? (Sees the guy moving) There, he just shifted again!
Victoria: As Kiki's assistant- well, former assistant- I'm used to noticing these types. I bet he's lost in some train of thought right now and doesn't even realize it. Part of me wants to go break his focus just to spite "Kiki". It'd take some pestering, but he'd crack like an egg. But that's just petty. There's no need to do that. For now, I'll just try to calm down, and then hopefully this can all be unwound reasonably.
Ash and Acerola decide to sneak into the man and try to talk to him without anyone noticing, and he eventually breaks the meditation.
Black Belt: Managing the academy alone was always an impossible task, but Reborn City as well? There's no possible way I can be expected to lead both of them at once!
Ash: Wait, those are Victoria's words...
Then the Black Belt sends out Darmanitan Zen Mode and Cacturne to battle, and Ash realizes that nobody is noticing them, not even the fake Victoria who called Kiki. So they quickly defeat the man's Pokemon.
Kiki: It is the nature of those precious few among us who truly care to pick up more responsibilities than we are able to uphold. There is much to be said there, for personal boundaries, for managing the weight of these burdens, and prioritizing them in whichever way will saddle us with the fewest regrets. But those are not concerns of the present moment. For now, it is enough to simply acknowledge that these struggles exist. They are there now, and for better or worse, they will be there later. But their presence does not have to obstruct you from enjoying the benefits of a peaceful mental state in the meantime.
Victoria: (Walks towards the Black Belt) Hey, what were you saying before?! You have to lead Reborn and Apophyll? Who even are you?
The man is still meditating as he doesn't listen to Victoria, no matter how many times she tries to tell him that she's talking to him.
Victoria: Tch, fine! I have no idea who that guy is. I've never seen them around the Grand Hall before. So him talking about leading both this place and Reborn is... Where did that even come from? And snapping right back to meditation with no further comment. Something is really weird here!
Acerola: I have a theory... This is unorthodox, but let's keep bothering the students who are meditating! Most of them might not crack, but I can spot the ones who will. In fact, I noticed one of the people on the top level shifting when that guy started talking.
Then Ash and Acerola go to the second floor and find the nature girl, then they try to bother her.
Nature Girl: Priorities are all well and good, but we still only have twenty-four hours a day and a finite number of days in our lives! Even Kiki, for all her focus on wellness, couldn't outlast her expiration in any way that mattered!
The girl sends out Stoutland, Golem, Hitmonchan, and Dugtrio to battle, and Ash and Acerola manage to defeat them with ease.
Kiki: The physical clock ticks at the same speed for everyone; this is true. And none of us can prevent our varied ends. But your mind does not subscribe to the speed of the second hand. A clock is a tool measuring the rotation of planets; not the passing of thoughts. Our mental states can do much to affect the rate at which our time passes, both in the moment and in our longer-term health. By calming oneself and putting the mind into a resting state, we can extend our mental and physical energies, and make the most of our time in all senses. In order to speed up, one must slow down. But these arguments do not need to be made now either. You may simply acknowledge that the conflict exists within you, and without resolution, set it aside.
After getting back to the Training Grounds, Ash and Acerola find Victoria again.
Acerola: I think this about confirms my theory...
Victoria: And I think I also knew what you mean. Those aren't the students' thoughts and concerns. Those are mine. Kiki has my face. The crowd has my doubts. I don't understand why this is happening, but I want it to stop. This is humiliating on both accounts. (Notices in the disatnace) The guy in blue at the front. I saw him shift too.
Ash: That's Pierce. I was the one who asked him to come here.
Then they go find Pierce, and then trying to bother him this time.
Pierce: I shouldn't need to be reminded of these basic principles! And that's the whole problem! After all the build-up and all the expectations and hopes that were pinned on me... I still will never be able to be like Kiki!
Then he goes for Clawitzer, Ludicolo, Mega Sharpedo, and Gastrodon to battle, and Ash and Acerola defeat him in the end.
Just then, Pierce somehow teleported away, causing the path to appear, then Ash, Acerola, and Victoria march up to the fake Kiki.
Kiki: You are correct. You cannot be like me. That is why I am here. You no longer need to.
Victoria: That's- not...
Kiki: Didn't you want to be relieved of your burdens? Didn't you want to return to the days when you could live freely? Was the responsibility not too much?
Victoria: Who even are you!? What are you doing here?! Did you come here just to embarrass me in front of everyone?! Or are you just trying to control them? Why would anyone want the responsibility if not for the power? And even that's never enough to actually stop anyone! Fat lot of good it did me when Team Meteor was here- I was as powerless in Labradorra as I was atop Pyrous Mountain when you- When you...
Kiki: Then you can simply let me take care of everything.
Victoria: No!
Kiki: For what purpose do you cling to the responsibility? It is destroying you.
Victoria: Because this is my home, too! I'm not handing it over to some stupid shadow clone who takes pleasure in humiliating others! Ash, please- Put her out of my misery.
Kiki: Even now, she seeks someone else to do what she cannot. But this fight is irrational. I am already exactly what she desired to not have to be. I am Kiki. Please be at rest.
She goes for Palossand first, and Ash goes for Samurott, using the Razor Shell, it manages to deal some damage, but the Water Compaction raises the Defenses, and it goes for Giga Drain, but Ash has Samurott go for Ice Beam, knocking the Pokemon out. The second Pokemon is Garchomp, and it goes for Poison Jab to make Samurott poisoned, and finishes with the Earthquake, Ash goes for Walrein next and uses Blizzard to knock it out.
The third Pokemon is Suicune, and it goes for Calm Mind to raises the Special Defenses, and then it uses Whirlpool to trap Walrein, Ash has Walrein uses Ice Ball, and eventually, Walrein is defeated by the Whirlpool's trapping effect. So Ash goes for Pikachu next, using Thunderbolt to make it paralyzed, and knocks it out with Grass Knot. The fourth Pokemon is Mega Gallade, and Ash switches out to Banette and Mega Evolve the Pokemon to use Shadow Claw on it. Gallade goes for Zen Headbutt, but Banette defeats the Pokemon with Dark Pulse. The fifth Pokemon is Kingdra, and Banette also defeats it with Dazzling Gleam.
Kiki: To minimize the chaos within...It's never too late for that. (Sends out Marshadow)
Victoria: Marshadow?
Acerola: I knew it...
And Marshadow uses the Z Move Soul-Stealing Seven Star Strike, knocking out Banette, so Ash goes for Sylveon, using the Z Move Twinkle Tackle and knocks the Pokemon out.
Kiki: Your premise was wrong from the start. You cannot lead this place as I did. The shoes you've been asked to fill will never fit. You can never be me. You can only be you. You can lead this place in a way that only you are able to. That will be enough.
Just then, Kiki changes into Marshadow and then leaves by going into the shadows, and when Ash and Acerola rush in, they find Cal.
Cal: Ash. I'm glad you're here. The truth is, I was the one who passed the report of this going on to the Nightclub. I probably could've done a lot to stop this, but... Well, how is she?
Ash: She has a lot to think about.
Cal: This was another Anomaly's doing, of course. You just defeated it, and our star actor ran through here. It's currently hiding in Kiki's room. A Pokémon that can steal the feelings of others... You can probably guess what it is, right?
Acerola: Since I'm from Alola and I specialize in Ghost Types, there is no mistaking that I know much about this Pokemon.
Cal: With how much pressure she was putting on herself when I found that thing... It was willing to help, and I thought it might just do the job. Show her that she's enough herself. She doesn't have to keep trying to be someone else...It could've been a little nicer about it. Sorry about that. I'll go patch things up with Victoria. Make sure she's on the right path. The Pokémon is all yours though. Best clean it up before she tries to punch it or something... Sorry for springing this on you but your help is, as always, irreplaceable.
Ash and Acerola nod as they head into the room, and they find Marshadow waiting for them. Marshadow is also the same one that Ash met back in Kanto, and he was here because he was trying to find him. But after hearing what happened to Victoria, he wants to help out.
Ash's New Capture in Apopyll Academy: Marshadow (Event)
Acerola: So Marshadow doesn't mean any harm, I know it.
Ash: Yeah, let's see Victoria right now.
After they get out of the room, Victoria is already there.
Victoria: Oh, you're done already? I was just... coming to check. I can't say I'm really happy about Cal setting this whole thing up... But it's over now. The students have dispersed, and no one seems to really remember what happened... Which is just fine by me. If you happened to forget it too, I can't say I'd mind. But... he was right. Maybe I did need to acknowledge that part of myself still. Maybe it was... a little bit helpful. Even if he's stupid and I hate him. I don't hate him. But I am mad at him, so don't tell him that! If I'm acknowledging my feelings, he can acknowledge that he really needs to stop going behind people's backs, even if it IS for the greater good or whatever!
Ash: I guess you're right...
Victoria: Anyway, thanks for your help. I'm going to... take some time and keep processing this. I don't need to do it like Kiki. I just need to do it like me. That would be enough.
Ash and Acerola smile as they decide to head back to the house and have some rest after getting another new Mythical Pokemon.
And I hope you like this chapter, as you can see, with the quest done, Tier 6 is also complete. But before going to Tier 7, there is one quest that needs to be done.
