Chapter 82: If I don't, who will?

Eri was sitting on a folding chair which had a team star emblem on the back side of it. The team star boss was staring at the sky. She was all alone in one section of her team base- everyone else was conversing with each other.

Eri was drowning out the sounds of the team star members conversing with her own thoughts.

The sound of footsteps touching the grass caused Eri to turn around… and wince upon seeing who it was. It was her friend, Carmen, who had an arm cast. Almost immediately, Eri looked away.

"Are you okay?" Carmen asked.

"I should be asking you that," Eri said.

"Eri, my arm's going to be fine- I just need to keep this cast on for a few weeks."

The sound of Carmen's footsteps grew louder. By the time Eri looked again, Carmen was standing beside her.

"You only come here when you're really stressed," Carmen said. "So tell me what's the matter. C'mon, Riri."

Eri lowered her head.

"It's just…every time I battle… I end up having to use my Taros. He's my strongest pokemon, bar none. No matter how hard I train my other Pokémon, Taros just ends up being one step ahead. And because of the code, we have to use Tera-fusion during our battles. Not using Taros would be…well..it wouldn't be right."

"I get it…" Carmen said. "If you don't go all out, then you'd be failing your position as a Team Star boss. If you fall, the entire base falls along with you."

"Yeah." Eri said. "There's so much on my shoulders."

"There always has been," Carmen said, "But it's nothing you can't handle, right?"

"How can you be so sure..!?" Eri sounded like she was close to yelling. "I-... I hurt you. I didn't have control over myself. And I-" Eri's voice began to tremble with emotion. "Hurting one of my teammates by accident was my worst nightmare. And it came true...I'm thinking if I don't regain control over myself when I tera-fuse with Taros…then I'm not strong enough to be a Team Star boss."

Carmen shook her head. "...Honestly… Riri… you're the strongest Team Star boss I know. I know you'll never admit it, but you're really the strongest team star member we have…. Even out of all the other team star bosses. But- you're too hard on yourself."

Eri bent her arms and put her elbows on her knees before putting her hands on her cheeks. She looked straight at the ground.

"I'm scared, Carmen." Eri said. "I feel like I'm... stuck between a rock and a hard place. If I resign, this base…and this team… would be finished. If I don't resign… I could hurt someone again. I'm so scared…."

Eri cupped her hands over her eyes and began to break down into tears. Carmen began rubbing Eri's back affectionately.

After a while, Eri stopped crying. She lifted her hands from her face, and saw that her facepaint was breaking apart- she could see the wet blue and black paint mixed together with tears on her palms.

"Oh no…" Eri said.

"Don't worry," Carmen said. "I have face paint supplies. I kinda figured you'd cry."

Eri sniffled, hesitating to wipe her eyes before Carmen walked over and crouched down in front of her face.

"I've got you, don't worry," Carmen said, pulling out a handkerchief with one hand and wiping Eri's face as she continued to tear up. Her face twitched with every sob she made. "Hold still." Carmen said. Eri let out a trembling sigh as she tried her best to remain still. After a bit, the broken-down paint completely melted away, showing her beautiful face.

"I see you in your face paint so often that I forget about how gorgeous you look," Carmen said.

Eri looked away and blushed.

"I'm gonna start applying the paint, so hold still and stay quiet, okay?" Carmen continued.

Eri nodded and closed her eyes. Carmen started slowly applying the face paint.

"If you ask me, I think it makes sense. How you feel, I mean. You really are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If you stop fighting, this base is done for. If you continue to fight, you may accidentally destroy the base with your own two hands. It's hard to see a way out…but if anyone can find another way, it's you. You're the same girl who came to me when I needed someone- despite the fact that I bullied you. Do you know how strong you have to be in order to do something like that?"

Carmen sighed to herself. "I still don't know if I deserved your kindness back then," She continued. "Though, I'm sure you know how much I appreciate you, Riri. As cheesy as it sounds, your body may be strong, your Pokémon may be strong…but your heart is the strongest part about you. Sure, you cry a lot, but what strong person hasn't cried at least once in their life?"

Carmen applied the last touches onto Eri's face paint. "There hasn't been a person in this world who can stay strong for 100% of their lives," Carmen said. "Everyone has doubts and fears. But know that when the weight of the world becomes too much for you, and you fall apart… I'll be there to help you pick up the pieces. Just like how you were there for me."

Carmen pulled Eri in for a hug, and Eri's body began trembling once again as tears began welling up.

"Oh boy…" Carmen said. "I'm gonna have to reapply that make up, huh?"

Eri began sobbing all over again, and Carmen started patting Eri's back to comfort her.

"I hope you remember that crying doesn't make you weak. It never makes you weak. So cry as much as you want. I'll be here."

Eri cried for a long while, and Carmen hugged her for the entire time. After a while, Eri sniffled and pulled herself away from Carmen.

"Listen to me," Carmen said, keeping one hand on her friend's shoulder. "I think… for you to break through the berserk state Taros puts you in…you have to believe in yourself. Believe that you can break through and regain your senses. I think that whole thing about you not being able to do that is a lie you made up in your own head. You can't keep suppressing your true potential by saying that you can't do it. Because you can do anything."

"...Thank you…" Eri said. She sniffled, and Carmen pulled out another handkerchief and began wiping away the dripping paint.

"Anytime, Riri," Carmen said. She finished wiping away Eri's face paint, and smiled at her again. Eri let out a sigh, reaching for her eyes and pulling out her contact lenses that had a platinum color to it, revealing her true, brown colored eyes.

"I need new contact lenses, these ones are too foggy because of how much I cried.…" Eri said.

"That's okay," Carmen said. "I ca-"

"Eri- Eri!"

Another team star member ran over to Carmen and Eri, gasping for air after reaching the two girls.

"We- We've got a situation!" The team star member cried. "Someone got inside- we're trying to fight them, but-"

The sound of a loud explosion rang out. Eri shot up from her chair and saw smoke rising in the middle of the HQ. The smoke and dust settled, and revealed a purple haired boy clad in Invoker armor and wielding two thunder gauntlets given to him after tera fusing with a Pawmo.

It was Kai- it took Eri a few seconds to realize it due to the rumors about the boy surfacing.

"Wooo! Go Kai!" Nemona cried out from the sidelines.

Eri's eyes widened. She looked down at her pocket and pulled out her Pokeball- the one that contained Taros.

She stared at the Pokeball for a while and frowned.

"If I don't..." Eri clenched her grip on her Pokéball. "Then who will?"

Flashback

"There it is," Aeon said, pointing a finger at Eri's Team Star base. "At least I think it is, right, Cassiopea?"

"Yup. That's the place," Kai held his phone in his hand as it was on speaker so that he, Aeon, Nemona and Arven could hear. "By the way, what you said earlier, about being able to convince Kai that he has to bring down Team Star…that was a lie, wasn't it?"

Aeon smiled.

"That's right," Aeon said. "I had to get you to tell me where Eri's base was somehow, and I lied to make sure of it. I made a promise and I intended to keep it."

"I had a feeling you were lying at the start… I told you where the base was anyway, because it doesn't hurt me to tell you. I don't know what you're planning, but… Team Star will go down."

"Thank you for taking the time to talk."

"No problem. Also- Kai, if you're listening… let me know if you change your mind. If not, I have a warning for you."

"A warning?" Kai said.

"That's right. If you choose to defeat Eri, and not take her badge, that means you will be declaring war on me. If you won't take down Team Star, I will send someone who will. You are either with me, or against me."

"...All right then," Kai said. "I can go against you, no problem. I'll kick whoever's butt that you send and protect Team Star."

"...You have until tomorrow to change your mi-"

"I'm not going to change my mind," Kai said.

"...All right, then. From now on, you and I are enemies. Goodbye, and godspeed."

Cassiopea turned off the phone. Kai sighed.

"I don't know what Cassiopea's problem is with Team Star… but no one's going to bring them down. Those guys brought me up when I needed it most." Kai said.

"Hey- Aeon," Arven said, crossing his arms. "Are you finally going to tell us why you asked Kai about this Eri girl's team star base?"

"All right. Nemona, Kai, when I was with Arven earlier, we met a girl named Eri who had a problem with controlling herself when she Tera-fused with a Taros. I promised her that I'd send Kai over to fight her in an attempt to get her to learn how to control it.

"Really?" Nemona said.

"Yeah." Aeon said with a nod. "Kai, how good are you at acting like a villian?"

"Ohohoho- you have no idea." Kai said, smirking.

"Are you fine with acting like a complete and total jerk to prod Eri?"

"Oooh," Arven said, crossing his arms. "This is getting interesting."

"Uhhh..." Kai said, scratching his head. "I don't know how I feel about that. Considering what Team Star's about... I don't know if I wanna act like a bully or anything."

"Eri needs a little push to be able to break through the figurative chains she put on herself." Aeon said. "I want you to act as antagonistic as possible. Say anything to prod Eri."

"Wouldn't that just get her angrier?" Nemona asked. "And wouldn't that spell more trouble for Kai?"

"I believe in Kai; I know he can handle it." Aeon said.

"Awww," Kai said with a smile.

"Besides, I know this is all for the sake of Eri being able to awaken to Flow," Aeon continued. "If what Geeta said was true, about anyone being able to access the transformation- I've no doubt that Eri can awaken to it. She seems to be a very, very strong person. If we can get Eri to awaken to Flow, then she'll more than likely be able to control herself. Although- in order for this to work, Kai has to go in there alone. This battle has to look as real as possible."

"What?!" Nemona said, "we won't be able to get a front row seat?!"

"Actually….She's met Arven and I," Aeon said, "So we can't go there without her suspecting something. You, Nemona, I don't think she's met."

"She has, actually," Kai said. "She's met me and Nemona once, when she went berserk and attacked us."

"If that's the case, then it's unlikely that she remembers you both," Aeon said, bending one finger under his lip. "Because Eri told me beforehand that she hurt a friend of hers without realizing it. That means her mind blanks out when she fuses with Taros. So unless she's met you while actually being conscious... I don't think she remembers your faces."

"Wait, seriously?" Arven said. "She hurt a friend of hers?"

"Yeah- she said it to me while you were…" Aeon paused. "...doing something."

"Okay- so it's unlikely she remembers us," Nemona said.

"She probably knows me, though," Kai said. "I remember Atticus saying that he heard about me from other Team Star members, so she may know who I am."

"I see…" Aeon said.

"Hey- why not have me fight her?" Nemona said. "I'm the only one that Eri hasn't seen or heard about, so if you want her to awaken due to some random person coming in and trying to destroy the entire base… and have her not think for a second that it may be a set up- then I should be the one to fight her, right..!?"

"...Can't believe I'm saying it," Arven said, "But she's got a point there."

"Right?!" Nemona cried, nodding very quickly at Arven then turning to nod quickly at Aeon. "Right?!" She cried.

"Right, but…" Kai said, "You're not good at acting, Nemona."

"What?!" Nemona shouted.

"You heard me!"

"I can TOO act!"

"I bet you can- but can you act during a fight?"

"Wanna have a battle and find ou-"

"Guys-" Aeon said, raising his voice a bit. "Listen up. I think Kai's got a point- Nemona, you're too genuine for your own good to make the plan work."

"Awww…" Nemona said, lowering her head.

"So I do think that Kai can just do it himself. It's just in his character. Besides, she'll just assume the rumors she heard was incorrect."

"Yep." Kai said. "Acting's the best thing I can do."

"Not true!" Nemona said. "You can battle really well, too!"

"Well, duh, I know that," Kai said. "But yeah, when it comes to pretending to be a bad guy, I've got you beat. I can totally be a villain if I want to be- in fact, I'm kind of excited to do it."

"Kai," Aeon said, "Even if you have Eri on the ropes, don't end the fight until she awakens. Until she awakens, you have to be as antagonistic as possible, even if it's out of character for you."

"I gotcha," Kai said, nodding.

"So, we've got a plan?" Arven said. "Lemme get it straight: Nemona's the only one who gets to watch close up, and Aeon and I get to watch the fight from up here on this cliff?"

"Yup." Aeon said, nodding "Raise your hand if you guys have any suggestions."

Nemona raised her hand.

"Nemona, if it's about you trying to take Kai's place for fighting Eri, then put your hand down."

Nemona lowered her hand.

"Kai," Aeon said. "How confident are you on being able to defeat a berserk Eri?"

"I'm pretty confident," Kai said, "If I can fight Nemona, I can fight anyone. Besides, I've got a strategy. From what I remember Cassiopea telling me, Eri's Shining-star ability allows her to get stronger the more damage she takes. All I have to do is taunt her without actually doing any damage to her. Not only that, but I can also go in with Pawmo. Pawmo's speed will let me zip by any attacks she throws at me. Then after that…we'll see what happens."

"Perfect.," Aeon said. "That sounds good, but I have a great idea to add onto this."

"What's that?"

Aeon smiled.

End of flashback.

Kai shot his hand out and a thunderbolt flew out of his gauntlet- flying and striking down a crowd of armored Team Star members that attempted to fight him. Bolts of lightning flew into the air like fireworks.

A grin came to Kai's face. Just then- a roar of intense fury and rage came from Eri's mouth- and out from the cloud of dust and static came Eri- clad in Invoker armor and bearing Taros' red glowing horns on her helmet as she leapt with her hands extended at Kai.

Kai leapt back as the woman landed on the ground- the earth trembled and cracked below her feet as she stood up from a crouched position. Then, she let out a bellowing roar- her eyes were shining red with Fighting type energy.

Kai's hair flew wildly against the shockwave of wind that blew against him and spoke. "That's a ton of power you've got there!" He cried. "But you're all bark, no bite. I don't even know if I have to even put any effort with how predictable you'll become!"

Kai crossed his arms as Eri roared and charged after Kai. He kept his arms crossed as he bent his back backwards to dodge an oncoming punch. He bent his back up straight again and kept his back turned to his opponent.

"How were you able to protect Team Star for so long…" Kai turned his head. "...while being so weak?"

Eri roared and leapt after Kai once again, raising her fist high before swinging down at her opponent. The earth below her fist shattered. Flying rocks and debris flew into the air as though a geyser of wind had blown it into the air.

Eri felt someone poking her shoulder- and spun her head to see Kai, completely unharmed and waving hello.

Eri lunged at him in an attempt to grab him- but Kai's body turned into a bolt of lightning as it shot out of Eri's reach. Eri spun around once again- seeing Kai turning back to normal and...texting on his Poké phone.

"Hmm… maybe I should download this app."

Eri roared and charged after only for him to Kai to toss his phone into the air, jump onto Eri's face before leaping to catch his phone again. Kai landed with a crouch, continuing to type on his phone.

Eri bellowed a roar of indescribable rage, to which Kai sighed and put his phone in his pocket.

"Y'know- before, when I was less experienced, thought you were someone strong- really, really strong, but in reality, you're pretty weak. I guess after I beat you, I'm going to have to go for the other Team Star members around here for a real challenge..."

"YOU… WOULDN'T…DARE..!" Eri roared.

Kai smiled. "There you go- you're using your words now. Good."

Eri rushed in again with her arms extended. Kai shrugged and disappeared right before Eri could grab him. Then, Eri's head spun around- seeing that Kai wasn't facing her anymore.

He was looking at the defeated Team Star grunts who were all groaning on the ground.

"Huh." Kai said, "You guys look pretty beat." He then crouched down to their level. "Maybe I should jolt you guys awake…"

"NO!" Eri roared.

Kai raised his hand in front of Eri. "Now, now," Kai said. "Don't charge at me. You might hurt your friends."

"Why... You...!"

Kai's smile faded as he made a serious look. 'She's beginning to use her words even more now,' Kai thought. 'I don't think she realizes that she's regaining control of herself. She needs a little bit more of a push...'

Kai took a step forward and turned into a bolt of lightning again, dashing straight for Eri- who crossed her arms in defense. Kai zipped right past Eri from over her shoulder and appeared right behind her.

Eri spun around and gritted her teeth. Her balled fists were trembling.

"You can't touch me," Kai said. "And if you can't touch me, no one in here can touch me."

"Riri!"

Carmen's voice came from the sidelines, and both Eri and Kai turned to her.

Flashback

"What's that about Eri's best friend?" Kai asked.

"Well, I think she may be at the base alongside Eri-" Aeon said, "That's the only way she could have gotten hurt- there's no way Eri would go out of her way to find her best friend living at her house or something because Taros made her lose control while she was defending her base. That's ridiculous. So, she has to be there. "

"Right…" Arven said.

"But why bring her up?" Nemona said.

"Well, I want Kai to blast her and-"

"WHAT!?" Kai, Arven and Nemona shouted at the same time.

"Hey- let me finish!" Aeon said. "I want Kai to blast her and miss on purpose. He has to aim directly in front of her- and make dust rise so that no one can see her. Then- someone has to come in and grab her while the smoke's up there."

"Whoa.." Kai said. "That is cold. Too cold- even for me."

"That's why I said you have to go out of character a bit here, Kai," Aeon said. "It's all for Eri's sake."

"All right… I trust you. So who's going to grab her?"

"Either I can do it," Aeon said, "or-"

"I can do it!" Nemona said. "I can move really, really fast if I want to."

"Really?" Aeon said.

"Yeah, really." Kai said. "This one time, when we were battling, Nemona was really, really far away, right? Then- I blinked and she literally appeared RIGHT in front of me. In almost an INSTANT. She is fast. Even without her invoker armor on. It's kinda scary."

"I see." Aeon said. "All right then. Nemona- you're in charge of grabbing Eri's best friend when she comes up. Kai- who ever seems like the one who is her best friend…blast at them, but don't hit them-"

"Yeah, duh. I'm not psychotic." Kai said. "Anyway… hoo boy. I'm gonna look like such a villain…but hey- I should be used to that, right? Can't help but feel a little nervous, though.."

"...That's okay. I understand. After all of this is done, I'll explain everything."

"Okay. Wish me luck."

"Good luck."

"Not with your words, dummy," Kai said, pointing at his lips.

Aeon smiled and closed the distance between himself and Kai- kissing his boyfriend on the lips. "Good luck," Aeon said.

"Thank you," Kai said.

End of Flashback.

"Riri- you can do it!" Carmen said.

'That must be her best friend,' Kai thought as he forced an evil smirk.

"Well, at least someone believes in you!" Kai said. Slowly, he raised his arm over to Carmen. "Buuuut…she's annoying."

"NO!" Eri cried.

A blast of lightning flew out of Kai's palm and at Carmen- who screamed as the lightning flew after her. The lightning bolt landed in front of the girl- causing her to step back. Just then, Nemona came in like an arrow- grabbing Carmen from behind and leaping away to carry her off.

The smoke cleared, and Carmen was nowhere to be found.

Kai smirked and began to chuckle.

"There we go…" He said. "Now that she's gone, I can have some peace and quiet as I dismantle this base."

Eri gritted her teeth.

"YOU… HOW…COULD YOU!?"

Kai grinned and continued to chuckle.

"I WON'T-...LET YOU…GET AWAY…WITH THIS…!"

Eri began grunting and groaning in exertion as she clenched her fists.

The words Carmen told her echoed in her mind.

"…you have to believe in yourself. Believe that you can break through and regain your senses. I think that whole thing about you not being able to do that is a lie you made up. You can't keep Suppressing yourself by saying that you can't do it. Because you can. You can do anything."

"I…!" Eri grit her teeth.

The white wig that she had on her head flew off- revealing her natural, brown and long hair, which began rising into the air like a wind blew against it. "I won't… let you…get away…with this..!" The shining light on Eri's eyes began to fade away- revealing her brown eyes.

Eri could slowly feel her sanity returning with every grunt. She felt every muscle on her body tighten as small rocks began to lift from the ground below her.

"People like you...are the reason why... I became...A team star boss...!"

Blue lightning began to appear around Eri's body, making loud static noises as they came and went.

"I'm…going…to make you pay…!" Eri cried.

Eri's entire body began to twitch rapidly.

Kai was happy that Aeon's plan worked so well- he could sense the power of Flow rising within Eri- and that made his smile grow even more- because now he would have a much more powerful opponent to fight.

Eri raised her head upwards, and for a fraction of a second, her hair flashed and turned into a different color. It didn't turn white.

It turned Blue.

The smirk on Kai's face was wiped away and with horror.

Eri gritted her teeth as her muscles began to grow slightly larger. Every so often, Eri's head would rise up, flashing blue for a second before she looked down again. She let out loud grunts of exertion, as though she were pushing an incredible weight.

That was when the earth began to tremble. Tiny rocks were peeled off from the ground as the aura around the girl grew.

Finally…Eri roared at the very top of her lungs as her blue aura erupted.

The radiant blue light surged into the sky like a beam.

Eri was now wearing a black helmet with a visor that completely covered her face- two glowing blue eyes began shining where her eyes would be. Her hair now shining blue, flowed upward as though she were underwater from behind her. On the sides of the helmet were Taros horns. Her invoker armor was now black, trimmed with gold. There were spikes on her pauldrons.

Eri now had two gauntlets that had the shape of taros's head on the front of it instead of knuckles. Blue sparks appeared around the girl as her cape unfurled itself behind her- the cloth making a loud noise upon being carried by the wind.

Kai took a step back as Eri took a step forward. The step Eri took sounded like thunder as the ground beneath her feet was crushed.

Then, Eri disappeared, and re-appeared in front of Kai's face to throw an uppercut at his chin.

"RIRI- WAIT!" Carmen cried.

A sharp wind flew out of the punch that Eri threw- the wind shot straight into the sky like a bullet and shot a massive hole straight through the clouds. The sun shone down at them like the heavens had acknowledged her strength.

Everyone around Eri were screaming, trying hard to keep their feet on the ground due to the howling wind that flew outward like a shockwave.

Eri's fist had stopped short in front of Kai. He could feel his rapidly heart beating in his ears. Eri's face was turned to Carmen. The visor Eri had lifted up like a canned food lid.

"I'm fine, Riri!" Carmen was standing next to Nemona, whose jaw was completely dropped. "This girl next to me explained everything that's going on! Kai was acting so that you could gain control over Taros! He didn't hurt anyone- the only ones he did hurt were the ones wearing armor- so they're fine too!"

Eri turned back to Kai- who had remained completely still with a look of panic, as though a gun was in his face.

"I understand now... you...were the challenger Aeon spoke of...aren't you? The one he said that would help me overcome the sanity-breaking power of Taros..." Eri said. "For that... You have my thanks."

Eri pulled her fist away.

"However..." Eri continued, "if you still have the intent to fight, even after seeing what Taros and I have become... we will obliterate you."

The adrenaline Kai felt was enough to make him feel faint. His breathing had temporarily stopped- and his lungs demanded air- so he took in a gasp as though he lifted his head from the ocean.

Kai could feel his legs beginning to buckle under the weight of the fear that he felt at that moment. He felt as though he could collapse at any moment.

"If you know what's good for you...start running," Eri said.

"It makes sense that you feel scared," Geeta's words echoed in Kai's mind. "You're human, so naturally, when you see an opponent much more powerful than you- every cell in your body tells you to run. Use your mind to break through that feeling. Turn your fear into courage, raise your weapon, and strike."

Kai suddenly began to chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Eri asked.

Kai kept chuckling for a while, much to Eri's confusion. After a while, Kai let out a sigh.

"It's just funny," Kai said. "Because despite this huge power-up you just had…"

Kai entered a battle stance.

"You're still going to lose," Kai said.

Eri frowned. "It's your funeral," She said.

The visor Eri had fallen back into its place, covering her face. Then, she let out a roar. Instead of hearing Eri's roar, Kai heard the sound of a Taros roaring loudly. The wind howling in his face made him cover his face with his arm as he braved the gust. The blue aura around Eri took the shape and form of Taros itself, who was dragging its hoof across the ground and aiming its horns straight at Kai.

The size of Eri's aura was colossal- almost rivaling that of a Titan Pokémon

A shudder came to Kai's shoulders, but his smile didn't fade. He wasn't going to back down. Although, the gap between his power and Eri's was large. To beat her, he was going to need a miracle.

Good thing he knew that he could make a miracle in his sleep by now.