Geeta was well aware of her reputation. It didn't take a genius to use social media after all, for better or for worse. She knew that she was seen as a pushover, an underwhelming end to a league circuit. There were a large number of vocal trainers wondering how she kept her spot as Top Champion. Countless comments on uploads of her assessment battles calling her out as- pardon her kalosian- a shitty fucking champion.
She didn't respond to any of them, of course. It was a bit difficult to refute the truth.
However, every so often, as a reply to one of these comments or posts or videos, you'd see something interesting. Someone would defend her- saying that Geeta was tougher than she appeared, or that she has her title for a reason. At first glance you might brush aside these comments, disregarding them as contrarians, and a lot of them were. Some of these comments though, were made by Champion ranked trainers- strong ones, too.
There was a reason for this. Both for her shoddy performances, and those replies that testify to her strength.
"I am utterly incapable of holding back when it comes to Pokémon battles."
Nowadays, these words would seem like empty boasts, meant to hype up trainers that finish the gym challenge. Just two years ago, however, they carried weight behind them.
Two years ago, Geeta was a force to be reckoned with. A Champion as fierce as her Glimmora. A reputation of strength and power that rivaled and perhaps even surpassed that of Cynthia from Sinnoh. A climatic opponent that was a difficult final hurdle between a challenger and the coveted Champion rank. She'd been Top Champion for less than a year at that point, and already she had proven herself more than worthy of the title.
The complaints began coming in. At first it was the rare injury report, a trainer being unprepared and having a pokémon critically injured. But then, slowly but surely, the rate of injuries began to increase. More and more trainers began leaving the Pokémon League building with one or more pokémon that would never be able to battle again. It couldn't be blamed on trainers not being prepared anymore.
And then, somebody left with one less pokémon than they had entered with.
That night was… eye-opening, to say the least. Something needed to change. Clearly, Geeta needed to hold back next time. It wasn't like in other regions, where losing meant losing her spot as Top Champion. It's fine, just sandbag a little bit.
She couldn't.
It's not for a lack of trying, though. Whenever a challenger would step up, Geeta found that she quite literally could not hold back. The moment both pokémon hit the field, she was in the zone. She instinctively seized every chance and advantage offered. Challenger's mistakes were pounced on like a Corviknight swooping in. A flow state was reached, to only be shaken off by the end of the battle.
Team Star was founded. Nasty secrets were unearthed. The entire staff of Mesagoza's academy was gutted; replaced by new faculty.
This gave Geeta an idea, though. A possible solution to an otherwise deadly problem. It was quite simple, and to be honest the only reason she probably hadn't thought of it before was pride. Nobody wants to admit that they can't control themselves, after all.
The next time somebody made it past the Elite Four, Geeta had a new team. An entirely new squad of pokémon, of which only two were even the same species as before.
It wasn't anything remotely approaching a smooth transition. There were so many strategies, so many tactics, so many decisions that just simply didn't work anymore. She was so used to commanding her old team that she had to break out of her trance to remind herself of her current options.
But that was the point. Forcing herself out of the zone, making her think longer about her commands, it served as a way to limit her skill in battling. Sure, it wouldn't last forever- as she battled more and more with this new team, their bond would get almost as strong as the previous one, and she'd be back at square one- but for now, it would do.
So that explained her recent reputation as an easy win, practically a victory lap. And, in a way, partially explained why certain trainers would defend her skill level. It wasn't the only reason for the latter, though.
Challenges for the position of Top Champion were a serious affair. For starters, you had to be both a legal adult and a Champion Ranked trainer to even make an attempt. Another test was required, one which required knowledge of current events, the state of the region, and other things that a figurehead should probably know. Matches took place in a secure room underneath the league, free from any recording devices or spectators. What happens during a Top Champion challenge stays within that room, and only the coronation of a new Top Champion would breach its security.
Here, Geeta's inability to hold back was a blessing instead of a curse. These matches were brutal, bloody, and desperate. If you weren't mentally, physically, or spiritually prepared, then there were casualties. Sometimes there were casualties anyway. Those that took this challenge were met with Geeta's true abilities. Her ruthless battling style, her deep instinctual connections to her pokémon, they all came out in full force in these battles.
Zzzt-
The sound of the elevator doors opening shook Geeta from her reminiscence. The cold wind atop the Pokémon League building brushed her face, and a set of pokéballs hung from her waist. Even as the promising young trainer that Nemona was excited about turned to face her, only one thought was on her mind.
How would this team fare?