Chapter 81: Win, No matter the Foe

Arven pulled away his phone from his ear while having his back turned to Aeon, who was petting Mabostiff while sitting on the ground.

"So who was calling you?" Aeon asked. His eyes were focused on the Mabostiff, who looked completely relaxed.

"It was Kai."

Aeon raised his head over to Arven and sighed.

"Again? I swear," Aeon said, crossing his arms, "If I had a phone of my own, I'd call him over and over again for calling you during a gym battle of all things…. Doesn't he know he could risk being pummeled if he does that? I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind when I see him again,"

"Oh, shut up, you love it," Arven said.

Aeon pouted. "That's exactly what Kai would say."

"Well since it's obvious you're starting to miss him-"

"I-" Aeon began to blush. "Hey! It's only been two hours- I don't miss him already..."

Arven chuckled. "Riiiight. We're going to be off to see him, anyway. He called for us to meet up at Levincia."

Aeon's eyebrows rose. "Really?" He asked.

"I can see you fighting back a smile," Arven said. "Missing him that much, huh?"

"It's been two hours!"

"Two hours too long, huh?"

"I'm gonna hit you!"

Arven chuckled. "Anyway... we're very close to Levincia. Like, five minutes away, close."

"Well that's good. I guess I'll be able to kick his butt sooner rather than later… speaking of which, did you get the chance to buy that toy hammer?"

"Yeah, actually. I did when I left you alone with your booooooooooyfriend.~"

Aeon glared. "Why'd you say it like that? What are you- three years old?"

Arven chuckled as he reached into his pocket. "No, but I'm three seconds away from not giving you this."

Arven pulled out the toy hammer from his pocket. The handle was red, and the rubber blunt part was purple. Aeon gasped lightly as he reached for it, and Arven pulled away and raised his finger.

"Nuh-uh-uh. Apologize." Arven said.

"For what?"

"For calling me three years old."

"Ugh. Okay, fine. I apologize. Can you please give me the hammer?"

"Apology accepted." Arven tossed the hammer and Aeon caught it. Aeon felt the toyhammer and pressed on it, and it made an adorable squeak toy noise.

'"Huh," Aeon said, "Soft and pillowy."

"Yeah," Arven said. "No matter how hard you swing it, the person you're hitting won't get hurt at all,"

"Right, right. By the way…You messed up." Aeon said.

"Huh?"

Aeon rushed over to Arven with the toy hammer raised. Arven let out a yelp and tripped as his younger brother started hitting him with the hammer- the squeak toy noise came out with every strike and Arven kept yelping.

"Stoooop!" Arven said in annoyance.

"I won't stop till you apologize!" Aeon cried.

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry!" Arven shouted.

"Apology accepted." Aeon said with a smile before offering a hand to Arven to help him up. Arven groaned and took it.

"That's what you get," Aeon said.

"Shut it, else I'll sic Kai on you."

"What can he do to me?"

"I mean, he's made you fall for him. So…"

Aeon rolled his eyes and sighed. "Y-Yeah? So what?"

"You're fighting back a smile again, Aeon."

Aeon's eyes widened for a moment before he began to pout once again. "I- Shut up. Jerk."

Arven chuckled. "Anyway, let's get going." Arven spun around and motioned with his hand for his brother to follow over his shoulder. Aeon turned to Mabostiff, who hopped, getting ready to follow his trainer alongside his new robot friend.

"I wonder when Aeon and Arven are going to show up…" Kai said. He along with Geeta and Nemona waited patiently for the two boys in question.

"Why don't you let all of your Pokémon out to watch this battle?" Geeta said.

"Oh- you're right." Kai said, pulling out his Pokeballs from his pockets and tossing them out.

Quaquaval, Tinkaton, Pawmo, Charcadet and Grevard came out of their balls and all let out a cry as they touched the ground. Charcadet went flat on its butt and started sucking its thumb, Tinkaton and Pawmo exchanged glances and blushed as they looked away, Quaquaval stretched its legs and wings, and Grevard started running around the entire group of Pokémon.

"That's everyone?" Geeta asked.

"Well… no." Kai said, scratching the back of his head. "I still have one more Pokémon…" Kai cupped his hands around his mouth. "HEY! IT SURE IS NICE NOT HAVING SOMETHING FALL ON MY HEAD RIGHT NOW-"

Suddenly, swooping in from the sky was none other than Bombirdier, who immediately landed on Kai's head.

"GAAHH-" Kai roared, trying to grab the Bombirdier by the legs- but failing as Bombirdier took flight. Spinning around and facing his trainer, Bombirdier started to squawk as though it were laughing. "Stupid bird..! Stop landing on my head when you come by- land on my shoulder something next time..!" Kai roared.

"So that Bombirdier's yours?" Geeta said.

"Yeah…" Kai said. "But, uh… he kind of doesn't listen to me. At all. I was told that when I get more Gym badges he should listen to me-"

"Hey-" Nemona said, "You just got a Gym bade recently- so why not just try commanding Bombirdier right now? See what happens!"

"Okay," Kai said. He looked at Bombirdier. "Uh… Bombirdier… uh… Go get me…I dunno- a rock from that forest over there." Kai turned and pointed at the field of trees that wasn't far away from them.

Bombardier landed on the ground and stared at Kai, rubbing its beak with its wing. Kai then turned to Geeta and Nemona and shrugged.

"Well," Nemona said, "Eventually it will listen to you, right?"

"I don't know…" Kai said.

"I've seen plenty of disobedient Pokémon," Geeta said, crossing her arms. "Usually when their trainer issues an order, that disobedient Pokémon would not only ignore said orders, but it would also do something else entirely. Bombirdier seemed to take notice of your orders but ignored it. The fact that it's taking notice of your orders means that you're making progress."

"Oh- that's good," Kai said, turning away from Geeta and at Bombirdier. "Then maybe after one or two more badges, you'll finally listen to me, right?"

Bombardier's eyes suddenly widened in fear before it unfurled its wings and flew away.

"Hey- where are you goi-"

"KAI!" Aeon's voice made Kai spin around. A grin came to Kai's face as the android marched angrily his way.

"Oooh, a wild Aeon has appeared," Kai said, "Good thing I already captured your heart, because I don't have any Pokeballs-"

Aeon reached Kai and pressed his finger against his partner's chest. "Why did you call Arven during a gym battle!"

"Cause I thought it'd be funny. Plus, I knew it'd get you frustrated, and since you're so cute when you're mad-"

Aeon sighed deeply and put his hand on his face. "You drive me insane…"

"Weird way of pronouncing, 'Oh, Kai, you're so cool and handsome, let me give you a kiss-" Kai embraced himself, "Mmwah mwah mwwah-"

Aeon pulled out his toy hammer and hit him on the head.

"Hey!" Kai roared. "Where'd you get that!?"

"I don't know. Where'd you get the bright idea to call someone during a BATTLE?!" Aeon said.

Kai made an exaggerated sad face at Aeon. "You're so mean," Kai said.

"Wha-" Aeon furrowed his brow and tilted his head. "No I'm not-"

Kai started fake crying, and Aeon gave him a confused look. Kai then flashed a sudden grin and took the chance of hesitation to snatch the toy hammer out of Aeon's hands.

"HEY!" Aeon shouted.

"Oooh, nice and pillowy." Kai said, feeling the hammer.

"GIVE IT!"

Aeon tried grabbing it back, and Kai held him back by his hand while raising the hammer above his head.

"Give it back-" Aeon cried.

Kai let himself fall on the ground, and he and Aeon fell on the ground together. Aeon placed his hands on the ground, facing Kai who smiled up at him mischievously.

"Oh my…look at the position we're in.." Kai said, smirking and beginning to blush.

"You're the one who fell," Aeon said, blushing.

"Wouldn't it be super romantic if we kissed right now?"

"Yes, but I'm still frustrated with you," Aeon said.

Kai leaned up and kissed Aeon on the lips.

"How about now?" Kai asked.

"Nope, still mad."

"Really?"

"...No." Aeon said, sighing. "I can't stay mad at you."

"I love youuuu~" Kai said.

Aeon groaned. "I love you too.." He said.

Tinkaton watched, nodding to herself as she made mental notes of what just happened.

"Sorry to interrupt," Geeta said, "But there's a fight that you and I are supposed to have, Kai."

"Oh- right," Kai said. Kai lightly patted Aeon's chest, and Aeon stood up, offering a hand to his boyfriend. Kai took it, and Aeon pulled him up. "Whoa- So strong.." Kai said.

"Still flirting?" Aeon said, smiling. "Don't you have a fight to get to?"

"I think I may have to fight your lips with mine later, though."

"Maybe after the fight."

"Aw, why say 'Maybe?'"

"Revenge is best served cold, Kai."

"You're such a tease."

"You love i-"

Geeta cleared her throat loudly, and both boys turned to her. "I really am sorry to interrupt, but I do want to rest very soon. It's been a long day, and I'm a little tired. You boys will have all the time to flirt later."

"Wait," Kai said, "If you're so tired, why are you picking a fight with me?"

"Well, considering our battle won't last very long.." Geeta smirked and winked.

"HEY!" Kai cried. "Oh- it's ON."

Geeta was clad in invoker armor, already Tera-fused with Kingambit. Kai was terra-fused with Quaquaval, and had already activated the second stage of Flow.

Usually, at this point, a bright arrogant smile would be on Kai's face. But instead, that arrogant smile was replaced with a straight faced look of worry. Balls of sweat fell down Kai's face as she watched Geeta's black hair flow wildly in the wind.

"Before we start," Geeta said, "I want to do a review of what Flow is."

"Uh…why?" Kai said. "I already know about Flow."

"This review is non-negotiable. In fact, it's essential."

Kai groaned. "Fine…"

Geeta placed a hand over her Chinese sunhat and lowered it so that her eyes couldn't be seen.

"Flow is a state of mind, a technique that anyone can use," Geeta said. "There are three prerequisites to acquiring this form. The order of which you meet these requirements doesn't matter."

"Wait, what?" Aeon said.

Geeta suddenly raised one finger. The first prerequisite is: You must believe in yourself." Geeta raised two fingers. "The second, 'You must stop believing a lie you made to yourself.'" Geeta finally raised three fingers. "Third, 'You have to stop suppressing your true self'."

Geeta lowered her raised hand that held up three fingers, let go of her sunhat, and raised her head, revealing that her eyes were shining blue with the power of Flow.

"This is the first form of Flow."

Geeta clenched her fists.

"And this…!"

The white colored power of flow began radiating around her body like a flame. Her hair slowly went from raven black, to white, as her eyes began to turn red. Two golden orbs appeared behind Geeta, forming two golden gauntlets, reminiscent of Kingambit's hands. The gauntlets held a large, sheathed katana of its own. Kai's heart skipped a beat as he almost took a step back. Every spectator's eyes widened in shock.

"This… is the form attained when you have accomplished two of the three prerequisites." Geeta said. "It's called the second level of Flow."

"Whoa… so cool..!" Nemona said. "Shouldn't we call it like…Flow level 2, or something..?"

"Sure," Geeta said. "Why not?"

"It's actually kind of cool that Geeta's hair changed," Arven said. "Kingambit's weapon form changed a little too…"

"Y-Yeah.." Kai said, gulping a bit. "We can start fighting now, right..? T-That's the final form of flow, so…"

"No. It can't be the final form," Aeon said, shaking his head. "Geeta said that there are three conditions that must be met. Something has to happen when all three are met."

"Oh man, you might be right..!" Nemona said. "But that'd mean there'd be a form even stronger than the one she has now!"

"Is that even a thing?" Kai asked. "I don't even think that's possible."

"I mean…there has to be, right?" Arven said. "Think about it. Two of the conditions were met, and she became this powerful. Something has to happen when she fulfills all three requirements…"

"I mean, I can see that, but…" Kai said. "I dunno."

Geeta didn't confirm or deny anything her spectators said. She only flashed a smile before clenching her fists even more and gritting her teeth.

"And this…"

Everyone turned to Geeta in surprise the moment she spoke. "is to go..ONE STEP… BEYOND..!" Geeta cried.

Geeta then started roaring at the very top of her lungs as the flaming white aura around her started to turn blue. The earth began to tremble under the awesome weight of her and her Kingambit's power. A ray of bright light that formed below Geeta's feet shot into the sky as chaotic winds blew across the entire area.

The trees behind the spectators trembled and shook as a violent wind blew. The ground around the forest began being ripped apart- tiny pebbles and shards of earth began floating into the air. several small bug Pokémon started scattering. Several flying type Pokémon flew away into the sky. Several water-type Pokémon from lakes across the area popped their heads out, wondering why they could feel a tremor shaking the earth, and a piercing scream coming from a single human.

Penny woke up from her bed, realizing that the earth was trembling a bit.

"What's with the earthquake!?" Penny cried. She reached out to her computer on the other side of her room and fell to the ground. She quickly stood up, looking at the computer monitor that spied on Kai…. and widened her eyes in shock upon seeing Geeta powering up.

Clavell's eyes widened as he looked out the window of Uva Academy and noticed a laser of blue light shooting toward the sky. He saw the clouds above swirling around the blue beam of light and hadn't realized that his jaw was dropping.

In the Uva academy campus, students crowding the area were all watching the sky in sheer surprise. There was a beam of blue light from far, far away, the power of which was so great that the clouds above were swirling around it like a vortex.

The ice cream one student was holding fell from the cone he held. The Eevee standing on the student's shoulder hadn't noticed either.

The sunglasses one student was wearing was slowly falling from his face, and the standing next to him didn't even pick it up after it fell.

A boy riding a bicycle had stopped in place along side his Cyclizar.

A howling wind started blowing in the direction of the sea of students, causing papers and shards of grass to fly wildly in the air.

"What's with that…power…?" One student said.

"What kind of Pokémon is doing that…?" Another cried.

"It's no Pokémon. It's from one person."

Every student in the crowd turned their heads to Director Cavell, who had a bright smile on his face and his arms folded behind his back. He walked ahead of the entire crowd of students, and turned his back to the laser beaming into the sky to turn to his students. "This, my wonderful students, is the power you all can achieve. This radiating potential is alive in every single one of you. With the help of Pokémon, you can push past any obstacle before you. Even the ones you put before yourselves. This is the power of 'Flow'."

Cavell turned to the beam of light. "Flow was named after the psychological state of what you kids call, 'being in the zone', but it's much more than that. Flow is a representation of one's relationship with themselves. As one pushes past their problems, they become much more powerful than they have been before. 'Flow' simply is a physical manifestation of that- and their Pokémon responds by granting them more power than it ever thought it had."

Clavell smiled wide. "I want all of you to watch. Watch as someone becomes the strongest version of themselves, and their Pokémon grant them the power needed to take on the world. Know that you too… can attain this power."

Geeta continued to roar at the top of her lungs. The spectators shielded themselves from the gust of wind coming their way.

Kai watched on in sheer terror and awe.

The beam of light that had swallowed Geeta whole began to crack like glass before shattering into pieces. A final roar dispersed the cracked glass, as though an invisible explosion had scattered it into the wind. Geeta was revealed to have radiating blue hair, and blue eyes. There were three floating katanas rotating around her.

"I apologize for making all of you wait," Geeta said.

Everyone watched with total awe. Everyone except Kai, who was afraid. Geeta could see the fear in his eyes.

Geeta took a step toward Kai, who instinctively took a step back.

The moment Kai took a step back, his hair reverted back to normal, and his eyes turned from red to blue. The moment Kai felt the power granted to him by the second level of Flow fade, was the moment he realized it:

Kai had lost confidence. He genuinely didn't think he could win this fight.

"It makes sense to be afraid," Geeta continued to talk as she walked, "You're human. So naturally, when you see an opponent much more powerful than you, every cell in your body tells you to run."

Geeta stopped her walking short, standing face to face with her cowering opponent. She stared directly into Kai's eyes as he trembled. "Use your mind to break through your primal instinct to run. Turn your fear into courage, raise your weapon, and strike."

Kai used every bit of his willpower to stop himself from running away from the awesome might of Geeta's power. He not only heard but felt his rapidly beating heart beating in his ears. He could feel his teeth almost chattering as his toes curled.

But as he remembered what Geeta had just told him, Kai stilled his chattering teeth and began to grit his teeth. His curled toes curled even more. Then, Kai's hands balled into fists. He glared furiously at Geeta, who stared back with a calm expression.

"You can hit me whenever you gain the nerve to," Geeta said.

The two of them stared at each other for a while. A gust of wind blew past them both, and neither of them moved an inch.

The hand Kai used to hold his weapon twitched, but just as it twitched- Geeta landed a devastating Assurance palm-strike attack onto Kai's stomach. Spit flew out of Kai's open mouth as the weight of the attack caused a shockwave to form behind his back.

"I didn't say I'd let you hit me," Geeta said.

Kai couldn't breathe- it felt like someone had grabbed him by the throat and wouldn't let go as he took steps back. Kai then fell to his knees and clutched his stomach. His lungs refused to take in any air as he choked loudly and his eyes widened in pain.

Aeon's eyes widened.

"Wait-" Aeon said. "Assurance is a Dark type move…! Why is Kai so hurt? Quaquaval should be resistant to Dark type moves...!"

"Let me explain," Geeta said. "The ability granted to me and Kingambit when I achieve this final form of Flow… is that All of my attacks will be super effective, regardless of the enemy's type."

Kai went on his hands and knees.

"You-...you're…a monster…!" Kai cried.

"No," Geeta said. "Soy la Diabla Azul."

Geeta kicked Kai on the side, knocking him to the ground.

Nemona's eyes shone with wonder and awe.

Kai began coughing loudly. He gripped the ground so hard that he tore some grass from the floor. But despite the pain- despite how his body trembled, despite how big the gap in their power levels were… a grin came to the boy's face. Suddenly, Kai began to laugh- as much as his lungs could allow. He coughed and spat out more saliva as he did this, and Geeta raised an eyebrow.

"I...know that... what I'm about to say is stupid..." Kai groaned.

He fought with all of his might to rise back up to his feet.

"But really... what's the difference between being stupid...and being confident...? Looking at the eyes of...a beast...that's much more powerful than me...and still thinking...'I can win this'... that's the epitome of stupidity...Or maybe..."

Kai's hair slowly began to turn white, and his eyes slowly began to turn red. "Maybe...it's confidence...Heh..." Kai began chuckling again. "You know-...what I've decided...?."

"What did you decide?"

"I-...am….going-..to…beat you…"

Geeta smiled.

"You may beat me someday," She said.

"No-...you…don't…get it…"

"Hm?" Geeta said, tilting her head.

"I'm…going…to…" Kai coughed as he slowly raised the rapier in his hand. "I'm going…to…beat you…right…NOW..!"

Kai grit his teeth as water gathered to the tip of his blade and formed a tiny orb. "HYDRO PU-"

Geeta moved to Kai's side with incredible speed and landed a Throat Chop attack that was powerful enough to knock the boy into the ground- a tiny dust cloud formed above the boy's back as he dropped his rapier onto the ground before him.

"Ugh…I…can't…move…" Kai said. "Quaquaval…c'mon…you…can't…be…unconscious…!"

Geeta breathed a sigh, and immediately, her hair turned back to normal, and the rotating blades around her faded. Geeta then knelt to Kai's side. "Listen. I'm proud of you," She said. "So very proud. Just like any other human being, under immense pressure, you temporarily lost confidence. But you managed to convince yourself that you could still win, despite the odds. You've come so far. Don't forget what I told you, and don't forget that pain you and Quaquaval feel right now, at this moment."

"It's not…over…yet…!" Kai cried. "I…want…a rematch…!"

"If you're frustrated about this loss, turn that anger into motivation. Settle the score when you challenge me to become a champion-ranked trainer."

Geeta stood up and smiled at her onlookers, who watched with dropped jaws.

"I'll be off," Geeta said.

"No..!" Kai cried. "Get…back…here! NO..! Geeta-...come…back here…!"

Kai tried crawling after Geeta, but to no avail. "Geeta…!" Kai roared. "GEETA…!"

Kai cried out Geeta's name again and again in rage as she kept walking away, holding her sunhat as she looked up at the sky.

"Were you watching…" Geeta asked. "Future me?"

Author's note: Hope you liked the DBZ references.

By the way: 'Soy la Diabla Azul' translates into "I am the Blue Devil", in case you didn't know. (I may have butchered that, but I took the risk anyway.)