Chapter 25- Limits

A/N: This is a original Pokemon Fan Game, made by Amethyst. if you wish to check it out and play the game download it at Reborn Evolved. search for it on your web browser if you want to get to the website.

Time: 11:00

Location: Apophyll Beach

It was getting close to mid-day as Percival arrived back at the Academy. Although he felt that he failed Kiki's test, he had indeed passed it. So, he had to report it back to her. Percival move a bit sluggish through the academy. Between not getting any sleep last night, and the trek up and down Mount Pyrous Percival was exhausted. Though he still had much to do in order to save the children that was captured by Team Meteor.

Percival slowly moved his way through the Academy periodically shaking his head to force himself awake. Soon he arrived at the school's head's room, Kiki Mikael Argall. Just as Percival slid the door open.

Thud.

"Sensei, please!" Victoria shouted as Kiki just fell. "If you keep pushing yourself, you're going to hurt yourself!"

"No. Willpower… is a muscle." Kiki said standing back up. "I will… not let… mine slip away. I have always said: one must fight hard to defeat the chaos inside. This is my chaos. Please allow me to fight it."

"Chaos… I think I've faced someone who just lets chaos take control of himself." Percival said, gaining attention to the room.

"Oh, Percival. You've returned." Kiki looked over to Percival, "Please pay no regard to the weakness you just witnessed. I'm perfectly fine. I was only… winded."
"…" Percival stayed silent, not believing it.

Victoria then noticed the awkwardness of the air. "Percy, how was Cal? Err, I mean, were you able to beat him?"

"I did… though, didn't feel like much of a battle." Percival said. "Didn't seem to put much effort into the battle."

"I see." Kiki said her head nodding in understanding. "Victoria, too, has already been informed of everything she must do. That means there is only one thing left to do."

"*sigh*," Percival was visibly annoyed.

"Percival, you will face me in an official Reborn League match. If you win, you will have your Badge, and more importantly, your Machine." As Kiki explained Percival wore a smile.

"Finally." Percival sighed. He was now going to be one step closer to saving the children.

"Now I will be waiting in the court yard." Kiki says starting her walk to the courtyard as she stops clutching her side. Which surprised Percival and Kiki. "Ugh-…Apologies. I am all right."

"Why does it have to be like this?" Victoria worry and anxiety clear in her voice.

"…" Percival looked down, understanding that Kiki was probably ill… he didn't like that. Memories of his own started resurface… but he quickly shook his head out it. And started his own way to the courtyard.

"Percival, wait!" Victoria comes chasing after him. Percival stopped. "I have to tell you something. When you were gone, Kiki didn't give me the graduation exam at all."

"…" Percival remained silent… already knowing what Victoria was getting to.

"She just showed me how to run things around the academy. Gave me an overview on policies, and…" It was obvious to Percival that Victoria was holding back tears. "…Percy, Kiki is dying. She's been sick for months, but she tries her best to not let it show. Apparently, there's no cure. And… I think she intends for me to take over when she…"

"Figures…" Percival groaned… signs were all there… Just like his grandfather.

"…Never mind, but, Percival!" Victoria's emotion was running rampant "The point is, I don't feel good about you fighting her like this! We'll convince her to give us the Machine some other way…"

"Victoria…" Percival said cutting out as much emotion as he could. knowing her condition, he'd rather not fight Kiki. But when he saw that look in her eyes, he knew there was no other option. "You know Kiki best. Do you actually think she'll agree to any other way?"

Victoria looked back at Percival, tears were visible but being held back. "But battling takes so much of a toll on her, I can't—"

"Victoria." Percival said aloud once more. "I mean no harm to you, or your teacher. But even if I fight you what will that prove. The kids have been in Meteor grasp for far too long already. Do honestly think it's best to just let wait much longer?"

"…" Victoria could only look down, in defeat. But she then looks back at Percival with disappointment. "…It's for the kids, right? They're, more important than she is, right? I'll just go."

"…" Percival just stood there feeling a wave of regret with his words… "I'm really pathetic, aren't I?"

Percival then made his way outside, where Victoria was standing on the side acting as judge of the battle. Kiki was kneeling on the gym leader side. Kiki, noticing Percival called out. "If you're ready, please take your place."

"…" Percival listed silently, avoiding any and all eye contact with Victoria.

Once both participants stood in their respective spots, Kiki then said to Percival. "Percival, let us see how well your discipline holds you."

"…The Challenger, Percival Whitehall," Victoria said slowly, all the while worrying for her teacher. "will now face the Gym Leader, Kiki, in a 6 on 6 single battle. Either competitor can make substitutions. The battle will end when all six of either trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle…. Begin."

On que both sides tossed out their first Pokémon. From Kiki it was a Machamp, while Percival started the battle off with his Delphox, Oracle. Percival smiled as he saw the Machamp, "Looks like we start with the advantage, Oracle Psyshock!"

As the mystical fox listen to its trainer it shot off a blast of mystical energy at the Machamp knocking it down to 11%. Kiki responded with a gentle smile of her own. "You've raised your Delphox well. Though even with a type disadvantage this will be a hard battle for you. Machamp Payback." The Machamp Responded with a strong punch back at Oracle, nearly knocking her out.

"Oracle." Percival called out to his Pokémon, who was just barely able to stand back up. "Alright… Again!" Listening to Percival's directions Oracle sent another wave of psychic energy at the Machamp this time knocking it out.

"Your strength is admirable Percival. But that is just Physical, you lack resolve." Kiki said reading Percival. "Hitmonlee finish off the Delphox."

As the Hitmonlee hit the ground it launched itself with its springy legs landing a fake out knocking out Oracle. "…Good try Oracle, you did well… Steel why don't we show her our resolve."

"A Metang, not a bad move." Kiki noted as Percival sent out his Metang to the field. "Hitmonlee try knocking it down a peg."

As the Hitmonlee came in hitting Steel with a Knock off at an incredible speed. Steel Remained standing just above 50% health. "Good job steel, now Zen Headbutt!" With the Zen of the ash laid sand, the focus was strengthened of the attack one shoting the Hitmonlee.

"You say it is both of your resolve, but all I see is a Pokémon's willingness to please it's master." Kiki said with some disappointment in her eyes. "It would do you well to know the difference. Lucario, Hidden Power (Dark)."

"Steel!" With the dark energy from the hidden depths of the Lucario hitting Steel, it was enough to send Steel unconscious. Though, the disappointed tone was enough to light a fire inside of Percival. "Hmp. Artemis you're on, Psychic." With the fiery anger lit inside of Percival, Artemis responded with those feelings landing a critical onto the Lucario, now making half go Kiki's team is unable to battle.

"*Sigh* to just let anger take control…" Kiki gave another sigh, then tossing out a Toxicroak. "Toxicroak, Poison Jab."

The Toxicroak launched itself at Artemis, and its poisonous claws extend jabbed into Artemis. Knocking her out instantly. Which surprised Percival the most… his best weapon on fighting types was just defeated in an instant… "Artemis… sorry…"

"Percival, I can see that you and your Pokémon have worked well together. But you still have ways to go." Kiki lectured to Percival. "I could tell the moment I saw you; your mind is swirling with chaos. Worry, anxiety, anger, envy, regret… and self-disappointment. You already know why I chose Cal to be your test. So, Percival, you said that you've beat his Pokémon, but do you feel like you truly passed."

"…" Percival just looked away, unable to say a word. Exhaustion and his mental strain finally leaving Percival at his utmost limit. It would just be moments before Percival fell passing out himself.

"!" Victoria looked on in surprise as she saw Percival pass out. "ugh… Challenger is unable to battle therefore the winner is Kiki!"

"I see… Perhaps it was too late. Someone, please ring the challenger to th—" Kiki said starting to turn from Percival, until she started a coughing fit. "…Excuse me, I—" Kiki then collapsed herself.

Time: 18:00

Location: Apophyll Beach

"*groan*" Percival shifts himself on a medical bed. Waking himself from one of the last memories of his grandfather. His grandfather's final request. Be the heir of the family, and fix the mistakes of his son, Percival's father. Percival slowly gets up and asks himself. "How can I do that… when I can't even fix myself."

"oh, you're awake!" A student in the medical room spoke, as they noticed Percival sitting up. "You passed out in the middle of your fight with Kiki."

"Right…" Percival groaned as his body ached to rest more. "Anything happen after that?"

"Um…" The student hesitated to tell Percival. "…"

"That silence means something happened. Can you tell me what?" Percival asked.

"…Kiki started coughing then collapsed." The student said.

"…" Percival liked to act surprise, but from what he could think… it was most likely it might have happened.

"A-also… Victoria asked to talk to you…" The student said.

"Alright…" Percival thought that he was just about to get an earful from her. But it wasn't anything that he hadn't earned.

"Um… she's currently in Kiki's room." The student said to Percival.

"thanks…" Percival said, leaving the Medical area. As he walked through the academy, he passed by the window noticing that sunset was soon going to begin. He walked slowly, because of dread for his next conversation… and not to over burden himself.

Eventually Percival was standing in front of Kiki's room, and slid the door open. Sitting on the floor was Kiki, Victoria was right next to her.

"…" Kiki had her eyes closed and breathing in a rhythmic fashion.

Victoria was next to her giving her a smile. "There you go. Just focus on your breathing. Like in Beginning Meditation, right? keep it steady. You're okay."

Though Victoria was giving Kiki words of support. Kiki, didn't want to hear them. She had just collapsed in front of her students, probably becoming a vision of disappointment. Kiki knew that and was angry. "Am I? There's no longer any point to keeping up a façade of serenity. After a display like that—collapsing in the courtyard… My glass reputation is already shattered."

"Nobody could be as strong as you've been through all of this." Victoria responded, her smile slowly faltering. "Look at everything you've done, all the people you've made happy, and—"

"And in the end, for as strong as I've been, I'm still too weak." Kiki spat out; anger was clear in her low voice.

"Please calm down." Victoria pleaded; she didn't want to see her sensei this way.

Though Kiki couldn't. "How can I? "Defeat the inner chaos?" Did you think I was only talking about Zen of the mind? I could be centered to dead-zero and I will still end up just that. No amount of meditation is going to change the simple fact that my body is killing itself!"

"R-right…" Victoria responded, it was visible to both Kiki and Percival that she was starting to cry. Victoria then bolted out of the room.

"Victoria!" Kiki realizing her mistake yelled to Victoria, but it fell on deaf ears as Victoria didn't come back. Kiki just sighed and looked to the floor, knowing that Percival was already there. "Please leave me. I wish to be alone right now."

"I understand." Percival responded with a sympathetic tone. He closed the door, then went off to go and look for Victoria. He looked around the academy, until he found her outside on the docks, consoling herself "So, this is where you ran to."

"Percival…" Victoria didn't even look as she was still wiping away her own tears. "I… Why did she get so upset…? I've never…"

"When people feel weak… they often end up snapping at people who try to help them." Percival says, thinking around the time Vee was forced to Evolve. Only his youngest sister seemed understand that it was wrong, but Percival had his own emotions at a high, and snapped at her when she tried to help. "She definitely didn't mean it."

"But… she must be going through so much…" Victoria said pulling her own knees to her chest.

"It is also a lot for you, isn't it?" Percival inclined.

"…What do you mean." Victoria said… thinking she didn't know the answer.

"I don't know your circumstances… but I can tell when you look at Kiki. It's like a child looking to her mother." Percival shrugged. "Now, I've said before I was never close to my parents… but I was close to my Grandfather… And I've said it before."

"…right." Victoria's tears started to slow… remembering what Percival had told her before.

"It'll be hard, and there will be times that they get mad for no reason. But you have to be there to support them. no matter what." Percival said. "Even if they refuse to accept the help."

"…Alright." Victoria said, wiping away the last of her tears. "I'll try and keep things together, so she can hopefully get better."

"…" Percival could only give a fake smile, as Victoria hoped for a recovery. Percival remember that cursed vision too visibly. From the hope he saw in Victoria, all Percival wanted was for Kiki to get better, and continue on living. But that was a pipe dream.

"Victoria! Percy!" The two then heard big shouts. Both looked out into the distance noticing Cain and Lucille on Cain's now Muk. "We have trouble!"