HEY. THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE IS IMPORTANT!
(If the story is already complete, feel free to ignore this Author's note)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! Starting tomorrow I'm going to have much more responsibilities than I did before, so I'll be likely to slow down on the rate I'm pushing these chapters out (which is weekly) That, or I shorten the chapters a LOOOT more. (to like 2000 words a chapter.) I'm probably going to do the latter. Or, heck, I may just post 4000+ words like I did this time.
Tl;DR: I'm unlikely to post as often as I did before. I'll do my best, though. And if I have to, I will shorten these chapters to compensate.
We'll see. anyway- Enjoy! This chapter's one of my personal favorites so far.
Chapter 72: Desperate Struggle
What did it take to achieve the third level of Flow? Director Clavell looked out the window of his office as he thought to himself.
He had to think about the research he and his scientists had discovered while they watched Geeta train...before leaving.
Raising a single sheet of paper, he read the findings of the scientists and skimmed over the notes detailing the changes in combat strength and the weapon forms of Pokémon.
Prerequisites to using Flow:
There are three factors to consider. Three 'rules' that the user must abide by before unlocking the forms.
Prerequisite 1: You must believe in yourself.
Prerequisite 2: You must stop believing in a lie you made to yourself.
Prerequisite 3: You have to stop suppressing your true self.
These Prerequisites felt...different to what Flow truly was. 'Flow' is a psychological state achieved when someone is 'in the zone'. When the difficulty of a task and the confidence of the person are truly equal, they enter the state of pure focus. Perhaps these 'rules' were a way to strengthen the power of Flow.
As to why it changed physical features of the user and the Pokémon...Clavell and the scientists had no idea as to why.
But it seemed like that the requirements of these rules weren't in order. For instance, Kai had awakened to Flow upon achieving Rule number 3. Cavel himself even to his knowledge, Kai had not achieved Rule 1 and 2 just yet. Which was why he only had access to the first form of Flow.
It seemed that the prerequisites can be achieved in any order.
Therefore, when Geeta achieved the second level of Flow, she must have achieved two prerequisites at once.
The first one, "believing in herself',
and the second one, 'You must stop believing a lie you made to yourself.'
This led Clavel to believe that there had to be a third form. One where a user goes through all three prerequisites... and ascends.
Geeta Rojo continued to smile creepily as she took steps toward her alternate self from the other timeline. Geeta's hand stayed near the hilt of her katana.
Both Geetas stared at each other as an arid wind blew past them both. Their hair gracefully glided in the gust.
"Glad to see that the star of the show finally arrived." Geeta Rojo said.
"You know," Geeta said. "We don't have to do this. All I want are answers. I know why you decided to join the Professors. I know why you decided to let them install whatever they did into your body… But why-...why did you allow the Kai in your timeline to-"
"You'll have better luck asking me that question if, and only if… you defeat me."
"...I feel foolish for even asking."
"Then why did you ask?"
"I had hope that we could avoid this battle. I saw… in the video..." Geeta frowned. "You cried when Kai died. I thought that maybe you had a little humanity left."
Nemona's eyes widened in surprise.
Geeta Rojo smirked. Then, she began to laugh.
"Go ahead, laugh it off," Geeta said, pointing a finger at her other self. "But I know for a fact that you're hiding your guilt deep inside. Because in the end the day… you're still me."
Geeta Rojo's laugh immediately stopped the moment the last three words of Geeta's sentence reached her ears. Her smile began to disappear and was replaced with a look of anger. She began clenching her fists as her eyes began to shine red.
"See- that's your problem. You have hope. Too much of it!" Geeta Rojo roared.
Geeta took a step back in surprise of her alternate self's sudden rage.
"Geeta- listen to me," Nemona spoke, and Geeta turned her head to her. "I don't know why, but I think whatever power she's using is affecting her mood. The slightest comment can make her really angry- but she's more predictable."
"Don't you dare look away from me!" Geeta Rojo roared. Geeta spun her head back. "You're looking down on me, is that it?! It's that, or you have a sickening amount of hope. You have so much hope- So much of it in fact, that it makes me sick. The fact that you're even thinking of settling this diplomatically…!"
Geeta Rojo opened her hand in front of her and it sparked. An Electro Ball appeared above her palm "Makes me want to throw up!"
Geeta Rojo roared before throwing her Electro Ball at Geeta. Geeta gripped her Katana. With one, blindingly fast swing of her blade, one that came so fast that it looked like she hadn't moved her katana from her sheath came out and cut the projectile coming for her vertically in half. The sliced Electro ball flew and crashed onto the ground behind her, causing dust to fly around the katana wielder. But Geeta remained still and calm.
"Don't you dare give me your pity!" Geeta heard her evil counterpart yell, and instinctively raised her still-sheathed Katana horizontally over her neck with both hands to block a swipe of Geeta Rojo's hand.
Geeta turned her back to stare at Geeta Rojo and frowned.
"Don't you dare look down on me!" Geeta Rojo cried. Geeta pushed Geeta Rojo's hand away from her, spun around, crouched and blocked the next oncoming swipe with her unsheathed Katana. Geeta slowly stood up, face to face with her counterpart as the two struggled.
"And don't you dare... not take this seriously!" Geeta Rojo cried, swinging her arm hard enough to make Geeta stumble back. Darting in quickly. Geeta Rojo unleashed a barrage of attacks, lashing out like a clawed savage. Geeta was able to block the attacks effectively with her weapon, but clearly was beginning to become overwhelmed. The surprise on Geeta's face grew as Geeta Rojo aimed for her opponent's vital body parts, like her throat, or her eyes.
"This is a fight to the death!" Geeta Rojo cried. "Meaning at the end of this, one of us dies!" Geeta Rojo reeled her arm back, preparing to throw a strong punch. "NOW…FIGHT ME!"
Geeta caught her counterpart's flying fist with the palm of her hand.
Geeta Rojo's eyes widened. Geeta pulled her sword with the back of her hand and swiped horizontally, but let go of her evil self's hand, causing Geeta Rojo to escape with a backflip.
After landing with a couch, Geeta Rojo's feet and hands slid against the dirt ground for a moment before she stood up.
"You're still not taking this seriously…" Geeta Rojo said. "You could have sliced me in two, but instead you let go of my hand to let me escape. You make me sick…" Geeta Rojo's eyes began to shine red with rage. "So sick… that It makes me want to destroy you… I'll- I'll KILL YOU. THIS IS MY TERRITOR-..." Geeta Rojo groaned loudly in sudden pain as she latched her hand onto her face. "Damn….it..!" The evil woman let out a pained scream as she began stumbling back and forth as though she were dizzy. "No! I'm not letting you-...interfere with the plan-...! Ugh!" Geeta Rojo cried out as she fell onto one knee.
Nemona's eyes widened. This was her chance. If she went in now while she was broken like this… she could finish her off and avenge her friends.
But…the fact that Geeta Rojo reacted the way she did when the second Geeta said that she cried when Kai died…and that she could feel guilt…Nemona wanted answers to that, too. And the only person who would be able to give those answers…was Geeta Rojo herself.
Meanwhile, Geeta had absolutely no reason to interfere- in fact, she stared with a look of worry and an open mouth. It was caution that caused her to not move, in fear that if she were to go and help her evil self, she could let herself become wide open to an attack.
So, neither of them stopped what happened next.
Geeta Rojo slammed her fist onto the ground so hard that the earth cracked below her feet. She started gasping for air as though she had just come out from the ocean.
"YOU DON'T CONTROL ME..!" Geeta Rojo roared as her hair suddenly turned crimson red. "NO ONE DOES!"
Geeta Rojo let out a roar as her eyes began to shine red, and her wings began to shine their respective colors. A geyser of red light with blue sparks erupted around the evil woman as she let out a harrowing scream that sent shivers down both Nemona and Geeta's spine.
The sky above began to radiate as the scorching sun above them grew brighter. Blue Thunder sparked around Geeta Rojo as a vortex of thundercloud-like gusts swirled around her.
The thundercloud gusts seeped into the pillar of light that shot into the sky and began soaking into the blue sky and spreading like a disease. The clouds covered the burning sun above and darkened the entire area.
Thunder began striking around the area.
The roaring from Geeta Rojo disappeared and turned into manic laughter. The laughter was so loud that it echoed across the area, as though Geeta Rojo had become some sort of deity that looked down upon them and laughed at the mortals that even thought of challenging her.
As the earth began to tremble, rain began falling from the sky, as though the heavens themselves began to cry.
After a furious roar, the thunderclouds dispersed from Geeta Rojo's body and revealed her standing with her back turned to her enemies. A single, futuristic-looking metal device that was shaped like a halo had formed above Geeta Rojo's head, and it shone with red, fighting type power.
Beside her right hip…was a katana sheathed in a futuristic-looking sheath. The first thing Geeta Rojo did was breathe a sigh of relief.
"I did it." She said. "I've...made Miraidon and Koraidon's power... entirely my own…" Geeta Rojo said. The moment the venomous, sadistic tone she had when they first met reached Geeta's ears made her shiver. Geeta Rojo then turned around, smiling her evil smile.. "That means...there's going to be no more interuptions. Nothing's going to save you." Geeta Rojo's eyes moved over to Nemona.
"Go on. Look at me, Nemona," Geeta Rojo spread her arms as though she were coming into an embrace. "I'm exactly as you called me. La Angel Rojo."
"How..!?" Geeta cried. "Why do you have a Katana?!"
"Did you not hear what I said earlier? I made Koraidon and Miraidon's power mine. That means I can bend their will into creating any weapon I choose. Out of all the weapons I could have forced Koraidon and Miraidon to become, a Katana felt fitting. You and I are like Yin, and Yang. Similar, yet different."
Geeta Rojo pulled out her katana, and its blade radiated with red, fighting type energy- almost like it was a beam sword. Geeta Rojo stared at her weapon with awe and began chuckling lightly.
"You know," Geeta Rojo said as she continued eying her weapon and moving it back and forth. A trail of red followed the blade, and the electromagnetic hum which rose in pitch with every swing brought another chill down Geeta's spine. "There's a benefit to watching the entire world burn, hearing the screams of people and Pokémon alike until it becomes white noise. It gnaws at your sanity, dulls your sense of right and wrong. On the bright side...it makes what I'm about to do to you a lot easier."
Geeta Rojo sheathed her blade and entered a drawing stance.
"We still don't have to do this-" Geeta said.
"I'm sick of hearing that voice of yours. Don't say another word."
"...Fine."
As Geeta slowly entered a drawing stance, she took in a deep breath through her nose and closed her eyes. Her hair slowly shined white, and when she next opened her eyes, they were revealed to be crimson red.
The rain around them began to fall faster and faster. A strong, howling wind blew past both Geetas as they eyed each other down.
Geeta's white aura of flow radiated as the purple holographic-like image of Kingambit was formed behind her. Once Kingambit's image merged into its trainer's aura- it became blue- and formed the face of smiling Demon.
The images of Koraidon and Miraidon appeared behind Geeta Rojo, roaring loudly before fading into the red aura of their new master. Geeta rojo's wings and halo began shining radiantly.
Both women stared each other down, waiting for the other to make the first move as their auras radiated wildly.
The moment the sound of thunder cracked was when they moved.
The sound of two blades clashing rang in the air again and again as the two Geetas moved like lightning. Watching them was like watching two master samurai clash blades at rapid speeds. They swung so fast, that every rain drop that tried touching them were cut in half and destroyed.
Their blades twirled and flew wildly in the air before meeting once again. Both Geetas entered a deadlock.
"Tell me how it feels to have the type disadvantage!" Geeta Rojo cried, pushing Geeta back. "Tell me how it feels to have a four times weakness to fighting type!"
Thunder cracked once again as Geeta saw her evil self's wide grin. Geeta noticed the fighting type energy beginning to burn into her blade and gasped as Geeta Rojo overpowered her, lifting Geeta's sword up and landing a kick onto her stomach.
The kick was strong enough to send her flying like a pebble being thrown at a river- Geeta's body flew past the rubble that used to be Naranja Academy, and into the city of Mesagoza, the city that was located in front of the said academy. After flipping her body, Geeta landed on the ground with a crouch as her hands and feet skid against the dirt and left a trail.
By the time Geeta looked up, she saw Geeta Rojo darting her way with her blade raised.
Geeta defended herself from Geeta Rojo's attack, and the loud sound of a metal clang rang so loudly that the soundwave blasted around the two of them.
The sound wave was powerful enough to destroy some of the abandoned, already broken-down buildings.
Geeta Rojo suddenly used the move Screech to amplify the sound of her voice as she screamed at the top of her lungs- the sound waves were visible and powerful enough to make Geeta cover her own ears.
As Geeta was stunned by the attack, Geeta Rojo quickly sheathed her blade and entered a fighting stance.
"Close Combat!" Geeta Rojo cried, attacking like an experienced kickboxer and letting out a flurry of punches and kicks and laughing all the while. The first punch, Geeta didn't scream, and felt no pain- but after the next attack, Geeta started yelling in pain, as though she herself was getting hurt by the attacks.
After the flurry, Geeta Rojo attacked her alternate self with an intense gut-punch. Spit flew out of Geeta's mouth as she reeled from the attack and clutched her stomach.
Meanwhile, Geeta Rojo stepped back, pulled out her Katana and waved it around her body as swords appeared around her. It was obvious: she was using swords dance to amplify her next attack.
And there was nothing Geeta could do. She could feel the weight of her invoker armor increasing, so much so that she even fell on one knee.
"Look at you. Pathetic. It's not worth it to use my blade on you," Geeta Rojo sheathed her blade once again after the floating swords around her faded.
Geeta Rojo dashed forward so fast that she disappeared, then re-appeared in front of Geeta. Her fist dove into the ground and ripped it apart before slamming into Geeta's face hard enough to send her flying all over again.
Geeta's body flew and crashed straight into and through a Pokecenter building and then a Pokemart. Her body slammed into the glass wall of a clothes shop, and into the wall on the other side, which her body bounced against. Geeta's breath was taken away from her at that moment as more spit flew from her mouth, and she had no time to think, let alone breathe.
Geeta Rojo came straight to her other self with her hand extended, and grabbed Geeta by the face and slammed her through the wall. Geeta Rojo then dragged her alternate self across the ground as she ran straight through the other side of the Clothes market, and into the next market.
And the next.
And the next.
All the while, Geeta Rojo was laughing maniacally.
After crashing through the last market and going outside, Geeta Rojo held her alternate self by the throat and lifted her high.
Geeta's hair and eyes reverted to normal at that moment as her body hung as though it were limp.
"You're heavier than before." Geeta Rojo said. "Your Kingambit must have checked out a long time ago. That means you'll feel every bit of this next attack..!"
Geeta Rojo tossed Geeta in the air like she was a ragdoll and clenched her hand as Fighting type energy gathered to her fist.
Geeta's eyes widened as she realized that her alternate self was about to use something big.
"COLLISION..!" Geeta Rojo's fist swung upward, ready to meet with Geeta's chin. "COUR-!"
Just before Geeta Rojo's fist could reach her alternate self, The holographic body of Rayquaza flew and grabbed the villain by its mouth.
As she Glared and gritted her teeth in frustration, Geeta Rojo looked up and saw the person riding the holographic Rayquaza: Nemona.
After the two glared at each other, Nemona backflipped off of her Rayquaza and watched as the Dragon type carried her away.
After landing beside Geeta with a crouch, Nemona quickly ran to her.
"Are you alright?!" Nemona shouted, reaching toward her downed ally. Geeta moaned as she struggled to get up.
"She's strong…very…strong.." Geeta moaned.
"You should switch Pokémon." Nemona said. "And you should do it quickly- before she-"
"Comes back?"
Geeta Rojo's voice caused Nemona to gasp.
By the time the young trainer spun her head, Geeta Rojo grabbed Nemona by the throat and lifted her high into the air.
"H-How..!?" Nemona cried.
Geeta Rojo said nothing as she quickly leapt and took flight,. After carrying Nemona high, and roaring an intense roar, Geeta Rojo threw Nemona over her shoulder with such strength that the building Nemona crashed into broke down and caved into the young trainer.
Meanwhile, Geeta groaned as she tried reaching into her pocket for Kingambit's Pokeball, but that was proving to be much more difficult because her invoker had become incredibly heavy.
Geeta Rojo moved back to Geeta so fast, that it seemed like she teleported. She stood over her weakened, Violet timeline self and grinned maliciously. Geeta Rojo then noticed Kingambit's Pokeball in Geeta's hand, and stepped on her enemy's wrist. Geeta screamed as Kinggambit's ball fell out of her hand.
"There's no escaping this." Geeta Rojo said, twisting her foot on Geeta's wrist before kicking her on the side.
Geeta cried out in pain.
"You're so weak compared to me!" Geeta Rojo cried. "You know why?! Because unlike you, I have the will to win!" Geeta Rojo kicked Geeta on the side again. "I have no reason to hold back! I have PRIDE! That's why my strength eclipses yours. Like you said before, in the end, you're just like me. If you want to even stand a chance, you have to start embracing the fact… that we're the same, deep down."
"I'm…nothing like… you.." Geeta grit her teeth and clenched her fists as she attempted to move her arms.
"Oh, but you are!"
Geeta Rojo kicked Geeta on the side once again and made her scream loudly in pain. Thunder cracked at that moment.
"I'm...nothing...like-" Geeta glared and grit her teeth. "...you...!"
"Then why do you move despite the fact that Kingsgambit is already unconscious? If Your Pokémon is unable to fight- then neither should you. It's basic knowledge- in fact, it's considered immoral to keep fighting after your Pokemon fainted. And yet, you still try to fight! Tell me why!"
Geeta Rojo kicked Geeta on the side once again.
"Tell me!" Geeta Rojo cried.
Geeta didn't want to admit it, but her alternate self had a point. As she was being kicked on the side again, she remembered the time when she first awakened to the second form of Flow.
She had refused to lose, and kept moving despite Kingambit being unconscious. She may as well have carried his unconscious body with her to victory.
Her will even caused Kingambit to wake up from unconsciousness.
Geeta could feel Geeta Rojo's kicks becoming more violent and powerful by the second, but even then, she tried moving to defend herself. She hadn't given up.
At the same time, though, she was afraid of how far her pride would take her. Geeta Rojo was the prime example of this- the living embodiment of what would happen if her pride had taken her over completely.
Pride had overcome Geeta Rojo, and she became a monster. Maybe that was why Geeta didn't want to fight her, because she didn't want to even think about how easily she could have become like her.
Geeta Rojo slammed her foot onto Geeta's stomach, and Geeta's limbs jolted upward as she screamed in pain. Geeta Rojo then leaned her body onto her own knee and looked down with disdain.
"You know what?" Geeta Rojo said, leaning back to a regular standing position. "I'm done. It's over for you. I'm going to put everything I have into this one attack." Geeta Rojo folded the fingers of her open hand fingers one by one before curling her hand into a fist. Fighting type energy began to radiate violently around her fist, red lightning sparked around her as her hand slowly became bright red.
Geeta had looked away from that 'dark' part of her a long time ago. She suppressed it…and became afraid of it. But…in some ways, it could be a strength. The fact that her will was enough to bring Kingambit back from unconsciousness before…proved that it could become a strength.
All she had to do was stop hiding from it.
Maybe…Geeta Rojo was right.
Geeta closed her eyes slowly.
"COLLISION..!" Geeta Rojo raised her fist. "COOOOOOOOURSE!"
After roaring the name of Koraidon's signature move, Geeta Rojo slammed her fist downward, and a blindingly radiant almost flame-like explosion came to life. The blast was so powerful that it obliterated all of the rubble and abandoned buildings around the area.
Meanwhile, Nemona pulled herself out of a pile of rubble, and saw the explosion that looked like a volcanic eruption coming straight for her. Nemona crossed her arms in defense as the explosion swallowed her whole.
All of what used to be Mesogoza was reduced to ash, and the only things left after the explosion was Nemona, who was covered in dirt but alive, Geeta Rojo, and the flat wastelands they both stood on.
Nemona saw Geeta Rojo standing alone. Her head was lowered, and a shadow loomed over her eyes. A gigantic fist mark that was as long and wide as a football field scarred the earth below her feet.
Before Nemona could speak, her eyes widened. A blue radiant light shone so brightly in her eyes that her body shook.
Geeta Rojo lifted her head up so that her glaring eyes could be visible, and widened her eyes as she felt the power of Flow sparking like lightning from behind her.
Nemona's eyes widened. "She- She dodged the attack!" Nemona shouted.
Geeta Rojo could feel it. Something was happening to her Violet timeline self. She could feel the power of Flow…rising higher than ever before.
A bright light shone on her from behind- and she felt its heat. For a moment, fear made Geeta Rojo unable to move.
Geeta's entire body shone blue, as though she had become as bright and radiant as the Sun.
It was like she was on fire- a blue flame that completely covered her entire body, even her eyes, even her hair, had completely and utterly consumed her. The only thing that could be seen was the shadowy Silhouette of what looked like a person.
She looked like a shadow that loomed in the light.
Geeta Rojo spun around, gritted her teeth, and roared as she ran to throw a punch at Geeta.
While keeping her back turned to her scarlet timeline self, Geeta backflipped over her opponent to dodge.
Suddenly, three floating katanas glowing with dark type energy appeared around Geeta Rojo and began slashing rapidly at insane speeds. The screams of agony that came from Geeta Rojo's mouth made Nemona become even more awe-struck.
As Geeta landed on the ground, with her back still turned to Geeta Rojo, who had fallen to one knee and coughed loudly.
"That-...That move those swords used…was Kowtow Cleave..! That's a Dark type move..! I should be having the defense of a Fighting type…so why… Why am I so…!" Spit flew out of Geeta Rojo's mouth once again. "Why am I so damaged…!?"
The bright, flame-like light that shone around Geeta began to disappear, and revealed her transformation. Her eyes were closed, and her hair had turned from black…to a bright blue. The three floating swords that Geeta used against her alternate self appeared behind her back. Each blade represented the amount of Bisharp holding a Leader's Crest Kingambit had to defeat in order to evolve.
"I have to thank you." Geeta spoke for the first time since her sudden boost in power. "This…was because of you. You taught me something important."
Geeta then slowly opened her eyes, revealing that they had also turned blue. A trail of blue flames followed every movement of her eyes as she turned around.
Geeta Rojo stared in fear.
"You were right, in the end. You and I are like Yin, and Yang." Geeta continued. "You embraced the dark side of our personality, and I embraced the light. But that made me incomplete. Because I was too scared of the darkness within me, I could never, ever reach my true potential. Pride is what carried me to evolve before. And Pride is what's carrying me now. So long as I don't let it overtake me…and so long as I don't fear it and control it…it can add to my strength."
Geeta stared at her open palm, and clenched it before shooting a glare at her opponent.
"Take a good look, Geeta of the Scarlet Dimension. This is the result of embracing the light and darkness within myself…and creating Twilight! This… is the third and final level… of FLOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW!"
Geeta's radiant blue aura exploded with unyielding pride and determination. Geeta Rojo's hair flew violently as she glared furiously.
"Do you think you're better than me!?" Geeta Rojo cried. "Is that it!? How dare you..? I'll see how much you preach about light and dark when I put you back on the ground! In case you forgot, you're still using that useless Kingambit! Any fighting type move I hit you with will destroy you and your worthless pride!"
"I don't think you understand," Geeta said. "Heed my words. You will never land another hit on me again."
"You arrogant little…!" Geeta Rojo pulled out her katana. "I'm going to make you eat those words!"
"Bring it," Geeta said, beckoning Geeta Rojo with her hand.