Chapter 67: Battles destined to happen

Kai kept walking on, groaning a bit to himself.

"Kai-..." Aeon said, walking alongside him. "I don't know what's going on, but just- remember, I'm here for you, okay?"

Kai stopped short. He felt angry enough to start yelling, but he decided to hold that anger back. He's just concerned, Kai said to himself. He loves you. That's why he's worried.

Kai turned to Aeon and smiled. "Thanks." He said. "I appreciate it. Though- could you give me a minute? I need to think."

"Okay." Aeon said. "Don't forget what I said."

"I won't."

The two boys shared a kiss, and Aeon gave one last worried look before walking away. The moment Aeon walked away, everything around Kai went pitch black.

"Hey," Kai heard the yellow-eyed version of himself from behind.

"I thought I didn't have to deal with you anymore," Kai replied.

"Wow," The yellow-eyed Kai said. "That's a little rude."

"No- ugh. I didn't mean to- sorry." Kai said, turning to his other self. "...I meant to say, I thought I was done with this. You only show up whenever I'm doubting myself. It's annoying. Ugh… Is there some sort of problem that I need to overcome, now? How many times do I have to do this until the doubt goes away?"

"Did you think that just because you started to like yourself that life would be easier?" The other Kai said.

"No. It's just-...I thought that after I grew, I'd be done. Y'know? After that whole thing about winning that first Gym badge. I thought I'd be done with every doubt I've ever had. It sounds stupid, I know, but… I just wanted a happily-ever-after with Aeon and the others. I'm so annoyed. I always get like this when there's the tiniest roadblock in front of me. It's pathetic. I'm pathe-"

"Hey- stop it. Don't call yourself pathetic. What you're thinking isn't stupid. It makes sense."

"Wha-" Kai said, tilting his head. "How?"

"What's wrong with wanting to have a happily ever after? Even if life's not going to let that happen, is it wrong to want the best for your life?"

"...Just because it makes sense doesn't mean it solves the problem. I have to-"

"Sometimes you don't need an immediate answer. Sometimes…You need a long hug. The thinking can come later."

"But…I'm whining like a little baby."

"Yeah, and? Who hasn't whined a little?"

"But I'm- I'm being stupid. I almost yelled at Aeon-"

"Almost being the key word here. You didn't yell at him, you controlled yourself and realized he didn't do anything. That takes maturity. Sides', You're human."

"...This feels weird… Usually…you'd just… make fun of me. Taunt me, say that I'm worthless, pathetic…"

"Ehh- I wouldn't say you're any of that. I'd say that you're just sad that you have to deal with problems again. I could tell you, 'life's gonna throw things at you no matter what', but.. You already know that. So instead I'm just gonna be nice to you so you can get through it easier."

The yellow eyed Kai placed a conforting hand on his other self.

"It's… just…I didn't expect this from you." Kai said. "I didn't expect you to be this…kind, y'know?"

"It's cause you're proud of what you've done." The other Kai said. "...What we've done. Actually, it's hard to say, 'we', since we're the same person...and, since I'm technically a figment of your imagination. But, you get the idea."

Both Kais chuckled a bit.

"Yeah," The normal, original Kai said. "When I became my true, uncensored self… I did great things. I was able to do so much… I remember that time when I beat Mela. Or that time when I beat Bombirdier…I remember that time when I was able to shrug off all doubts coming from other people, after casting away my own."

"Yeah."

Kai's yellow-eyed self pulled his arm off of his other self's shoulder, then raised his other arm, offering a handshake.

"I'd offer to hug you, but… that'd be weird." The other Kai said. "Just remember, no matter what, no matter who leaves you, you always have yourself. You always have me."

"Yeah." Kai said, grabbing the hand of the other Kai. "I… I'll have you."

Everything around Kai went back to normal, and his yellow-eyed self disappeared along with the darkness.

Kai turned his head, seeing that the hallway in behind him was empty. The trainer decided to walk down the hallway, preparing himself to find Aeon. Just as he went to the edge of the hallway and turned left- he stopped short, raising his eyebrows as he saw Aeon standing there, who instinctively took a step back to not bump into Kai.

"Oh-...hey." Aeon said. "I didn't think you'd be coming back so soon..."

Kai wordlessly moved and hugged Aeon. Aeon's arms rose and hung in the air for a moment in surprise- but after a little bit, his arms slowly wrapped around his boyfriend.

The two just continued to hug for a while. Not a single word was said.

After a while, the two boys slowly pulled away, held hands, and then walked down the hall.

There, Arven, Nemona, Quaxwell, and Charcadet stood. Charcadet let out a happy expression upon seeing Kai, and Quaxwell smiled.

"Ah, there they are," Arven said.

"Hey, guys! Awww-" Nemona said, cupping her hands together and leaning her cheek against them, "Look at that, they're holding hands. That's so sweet!"

"I'm ready to talk about things," Kai said, "But first, I wanna run down the list of Pokémon that are willing to listen to me." Kai pulled his hand away from Aeon and walked to his Pokémon before putting his hands on his knees and looking down at them. "Are you guys willing to fight for me on the next Gym?" Kai asked.

Charcadet shook his head.

"Wha-" Kai cried. "Why?! Did you not see how well you did earlier against that Slaking?"

Charcadet nodded.

"You'd do great in the upcoming battle. C'mon."

Charcadet shook his head quickly, then started sucking his thumb.

Aeon bent his finger over his lower lip. "I think Charcadet needs more time. It isn't used to fighting yet."

"But…he's so powerful… ugh. Fine. I guess. You're still a baby." Kai said. "How about you, Quaxwell?

Quaxwell put his wings on his hips.

"Don't tell me..." Kai muttered.

Quaxwell laughed a bit, then nodded.

"You'll fight for me?! That's awesome!" Kai cried. "I knew that my starter would stay loyal to me till the very end!"

"Maybe consider bringing a second Pokémon to help you for this next Gym battle," Aeon said. "The upcoming battle may be tough. The more Pokémon you have to help you, the better."

"Yeah," Nemona chimed. "Good point. You'll definitely need more than one Pokemon. Remember: Every Gym leader has a gimmick. The last Gym leader you fought, Katy, had that Sweet Treat Gimmick that powered up her Pokémon to the point of evolving them."

"Now that I think of it," Arven said, "Wouldn't that mean technically those treats were made with Rare Candies?"

"¡No Sé! I dunno!" Nemona said. "But whatever Gym you're going to next, they'll definitely have a gimmick. That'll mean you'll need to adjust, and possibly restratigize. And having another Pokémon can help you do just that."

"I can think about that When we get to the Gym I choose to challenge," Kai said. "You can just tell me what the gimmick is on the way, then-"

"Nope!" Nemona cried with a grin. "I want you to experience it first hand. I'm not spoiling you at all!"

Kai shot a glare, then rolled his eyes. "Claaasiic Nemona.."

"You love me," Nemona said.

"I do, but I'm considering asking Quaxwell to drown you."

"Oooh, is that a challenge?"

"No!" Kai cried."You're- ughhh…" Kai shook his head and put his hand on his face before sliding his hand off of it.

Aeon and Arven exchanged a look, smiled, and looked back at Nemona and Kai.

"Anyway-" Kai said, "I've got one Pokémon who's willing to fight with me. Tinkaton's not going to come. That's fine, because It's not like she'd listen to me. Pawmo's…yeah. Charcadet doesn't want to fight…and I don't even want to talk about Bombirdier….I think that's everyone."

"Uh, Kai?" Aeon chimed.

"That's all the Pokémon that I have."

"Kai," Aeon chimed again.

"Too bad there's absolutely no other Pokémon I could use. I'd better train with Quaxwell hard, or catch anothe-"

"Kai. You have a Greavard." Aeon said.

"No, I don't."

"Yeah, you do!" Aeon roared.

"You have a Greavard?" Arven said. "Why not use it?"

"Use who?" Kai asked.

"...Your Greavard," Nemona said.

"What Greavard?"

"The one you caught..?" Arven said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kai said.

"Kaaiiii…" Aeon groaned, tapping his foot like an upset mother.

"UGH-" Kai put his hands on his face. "Listen- I don't WANNA! He's TERRIFYING- he's going to literally bite my head off if I let him out of his ball-"

"He won't," Aeon said, as he rolled his eyes.

"You don't know that- he's going to haunt me for the rest of my LIFE. That's what the Pokedex entry said!"

"Right. It did say that. The Pokedex didn't, however, say anything about it biting your head off."

"You don't know that! Maybe we interrupted it before it got to the part where it said that it gnaws on the souls of its victims!"

"Kai- c'mon, man," Arven said.

"Y'know what!?" Kai roared. "Let's go outside- I'll show you how feriocious this- this DEMON really is!"

"You did not just call a Greavard a demon," Aeon said.

"Heh," Nemona chuckled. "I remember this one time when he saw a wicklet and he screamed like a little girl. Hilarious."

"Shut UP, Nemona!" Kai cried.

"Pardon-" Nurse Joy chimed in and caused the entire group to turn to her. "Pawmo needs your attention..."

"Wha-" Kai said. "What happened to him?! What's wrong?"

"It's best that you see what's going on with your own eyes."

Meanwhile, in the Scarlet Dimension…

Evil Geeta was staring at the sunset. All around her were abandoned ruins, which were the broken remains of Naranja Academy. Not a single person or Pokémon were around her. Sand had almost completely swallowed the academy whole- filling into every building, to the point that only the ceilings could be seen.

It was like a nuclear bomb had exploded there, and destroyed every living thing in the area, Pokémon and humans alike.

Geeta had accepted what she had done a long time ago. What this world had become…the consequences of her actions, everything, she had accepted.

The battle she'd have with her good self was all she had left. After that…

The Geeta from this dimension closed her eyes.

She thought that this power she wielded would solve all of her problems. But they didn't. She still felt empty. And now the world around her, the one she had a hand in creating the destruction that wreaked onto the world...mirrored how she felt.

She started walking. Looking at the fallen buildings around her. She kept moving until she reached the long staircase that would lead to the main campus site of Naranja Academy.

Suddenly, the fallen champion heard footsteps, which immediately alerted the champion and caused her to turn around. She saw a cloaked and hooded mysterious figure, walking toward her. The shadow that their hood cast was too dark for Geeta to see.

No one, not even a Pokémon should be here. The scientists told her that her other self would be coming in a few hours. Were they wrong?

The idea of seeing her other self again brought a smile to Evil Geeta's face. It was the only thing that could give her joy.

Suddenly, the mysterious figure pulled out what looked like a golden-colored sword. The moment she saw that weapon, Geeta's smile faded.

Just before she was about to ask who the mysterious figure was, a golden aura blasted from the blade the mystery person wielded.

The aura had the shape and form of a Shiny Rayquaza, which shot into the sky with a majestic roar. The spiritual form of this Rayquaza parted the clouds above after piercing through them like an arrow. The sky shone down a light that nearly blinded Geeta- it made her cover her eye with her arm.

The spiritual form of Rayquaza then flew downwards, flying straight toward its trainer. The moment it made contact with them, a gust of wind which carried the sands around them blew toward the fallen Champion, who crossed both of her arms in defense.

Raising her head above her arms, Evil Geeta caught a glimpse of the mysterious figure's face as their hood flew off.

Geeta's eyebrows raised. She even let out a tiny gasp. The face she saw…

Was Nemona's. Her surprisingly long hair which reached her shoulders was let down and unkempt. There was no hint of happiness behind the young girl's eyes. No excitement. Only a quiet rage expressed with a frown. Nemona's expression burned itself into Geeta's eyes and etched itself into the inner recesses of her mind, threatening to stay with her for the rest of her life.

However long that was, anyway.

The Green highlight that ran across the singular bang of hair that hung in front of Nemona's face was gone, and was flying violently along with her cloak, which had flown upwards and revealed the dirtied-up invoker armor she wore.

Nemona slowly aimed her sword, which was now radiating with a black, smoke-like aura which had thunder sparking around it. The power was colored differently, but it was definitely dragon type energy that radiated around Nemona's weapon.

"Geeta Rojo..." Nemona shouted with a venomous tone. "That's the name that I'm giving you. Because your hands are stained with Kai's blood. I'm going to make you pay,"

Geeta didn't mind that name. 'Geeta Rojo'. Perhaps she should call herself this from now on.

"I appreciate the new name, but you're ahead of schedule," Geeta Rojo said with a low tone, one that came from someone who had lost all will to live. Nemona being here with that new Rayquaza meant that she would become a legitimate threat in the future.

Good.

"You'll get your chance to make me pay..." Geeta Rojo said. "But not now. Not yet."

Instantly, Geeta Rojo's prehistoric and futuristic wings appeared and unfurled themselves behind the fallen champion's back. After crouching down, Geeta Rojo took flight.

"No!" Nemona shouted. "You're not getting away!" She threw her sword in front of her, and it took flight as the trainer leapt on top of it. As it soared after Geeta Rojo, the blade began pulsating with yellow electricity. The aura of electricity on Nemona's blade took shape and form of the Shiny Rayquaza, which began flying incredibly fast toward its trainer's nemesis.

Geeta Rojo kept looking ahead, not once turning back to look at her protesting opponent who fired bolts of lightning her way, all of which she dodged.

"Activate...Orichalcum Pulse!" Geeta Rojo's hand began glowing red with fighting type energy and sparked with Dragon type energy. The sun above the two trainers began to burn brightly. Bright enough to make Nemona cover her eyes with her arm.

Geeta Rojo then gritted her teeth, swooping down toward the ground with incredible speed and flying as fast as she could, away from the blinded Nemona.

She flew far, far away. And by the time Nemona could see again, Geeta Rojo was nowhere to be found.

"GEEEEETAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Nemona shouted at the very top of her lungs.

"He has temporary amnesia?!" Kai cried. He along with his group stood in front of Pawmo's hospital bed with Nurse Joy. Pawmo lied quietly, eyeing the Tinkaton who had been lying unconscious on the ground for the past 5 minutes.

"Anmesia, huh? That must mean his special defense went up," Nemona said.

"Shut up, Nemona!" Kai cried. "How long until he's better?"

"I'm not sure. I overheard your conversation about Gym battles...maybe check back after you finish that." Nurse Joy said.

"Ohh boy.." Kai said. He walked up to Pawmo, and put a hand on his head. "I'm so sorry, buddy..." He said, rubbing the electric type's head. "I'll make it up to you. I swear."

"We still haven't decided which Gym leader you're going to face," Aeon said.

"Thing is..." Nemona said, "The ones near your level right now are...uh... well, it's the Grass Type gym, and the Electric type gym. Both of which, Quaxwell is weak to. So...you're going to have to-"

"Get more Pokémon?" Kai asked.

"No. Just. Use. Greavard." Aeon said.

"Weird way of pronouncing, 'Get more Pokémon,' Aeon."

"...I really wish I got that toy hammer to whack you with." Aeon muttered.

"Y'know what'd make you more comfortable with Greavard?" Nemona asked.

"What would make me more comfortable is if Greavard's Pokéball were several miles away from me," Kai said.

"...I was going to say battle-"

"Nemona, I know you were going to say battle, Everyone here knew you were going to say 'battle'," Kai said, narrowing his eyes.

"Hehe..." Nemona showed her teeth when she grinned. "You know me so well."

"Sadly. Yes, I do." Kai muttered.

"You should really consider using Greavard durring your battle with Nemona. It'll help." Aeon said.

"Ugh...if you REALLY want me to use that DEATH MACHINE... then fine. I'll..." Kai gulped. "Con-Consider...it."

"Weird way of pronouncing, 'I'll do it'," Arven chimed.

"Shut up." Kai muttered.

"You'll be fine. I promise," Aeon said. "I'll give you a reward for doing it."

"Reward..? Like?" Kai asked, turning to his boyfriend, raising his eyebrows and grinning.

Aeon chuckled. "You're like a Fidough or a Yamper sometimes. I swear," Aeon patted Kai's head. "I'll think about what I'll do, okay?"

"Kay!" Kai cried. He turned to Nemona. "Nemona, I accept your challenge. Let's take this outside."

Nemona grinned widely. "You're on! Let's do-...!" Nemona suddenly stopped short as her smile faded. A flash of her memory came to her at that moment.

'Hey, kiddo,' Rika's voice echoed in the young girl's head. "Remember what you told me before? About how you wanted to go all out against Kai?"

"Yeah..?' Nemona remembered herself saying.

'You should consider doing that the next time you meet. You may learn something about yourself.'

'...Really? But-.. What if he decides… he doesn't want to be my friend anymore because I went all out..?'

Rika shook her head. 'That lie you made up in your head that tells you that the moment you stop holding back is the moment you lose everything…is just a lie. You believed it because of what happened in your past, but in the end, it's not true. Think about that when you fight Kai.'

Nemona lowered her head, a shadow loomed over her eyes and covered them. Everyone in the room tilted their head in confusion.

"Nemona..?" Kai asked.

"Oh-" Nemona said, snapping out of her trance. "¡L-Lo siento! I'm sorry! I was just-... anyway, let's battle! Yeah!" Nemona chuckled nervously. "I'm-I'm so excited, that- uh...I'm gonna go outside right now and wait for you! Yeah! That's what I'll do...!"

Nemona turned and ran out of the room. Everyone stood in silence.

"Huh." Kai said. "That was weird."

"Yeah," Arven said. "Even for Nemona standards."

"She looked troubled." Aeon said.

"Eh, it's probably nothing," Arven said.

Nemona crossed her arms and started rubbing her shoulders as though she were cold and trying to keep warm. A troubled look was on her face. This was the first time she was going into a battle feeling this anxious.

She began muttering to herself in Spanish, saying how scared she was.