Craw sighed. After Anubis told them the truth they talked all together a bit before Craw decided to go back to his room saying he still had to learn but in truth he wanted to let Anubis and Ariela some time alone to talk. Before he left the room Ariela gave him a kiss again and that gave Craw more confidence that everything could be good again.
Kathrin went with him and now she was together with Brighton and Damion trying to coach him. Of course Brighton and Damion wanted to know what happened but Kathrin quickly made them stop.
Now Craw was sitting there working through the exercise sheets but he could only think about Ariela.
Suddenly someone punched him onto the head. "Hey stop daydreaming!"
Craw rubbed his head and glared to Kathrin. "You don't need to punch me..."
Kathrin pouted. "It will be your fault if we fall back behind the other groups so go back on work now."
Brighton chuckled. "You are a terrible tutor..."
Kathrin sighed. "Then you do it if you are so much better."
Brighton chuckled. "You are better with the common items than I am."
Kathrin rolled with her eyes. "OK but from now on you stop daydreaming Craw."
Craw still rubbed his head and nodded.
Together they continued. Even Damion could help at times with explaining them how they work visualizing it for Craw.
Kathrin on her side seemed to know nearly every item to the core. She also was really good at explaining what they were used for.
After some time Craw realized that Kathrin was really excited when it was about exploration stuff. "You know? You actually aren't that bad. Whenever you talk about exploration stuff you get really happy."
Kathrin pouted. "Shut up and write it down already."
Craw shrugged and grinned writing everything down. "OK done!"
All four of them stretched and sighed.
Brighton smiled. "Craw is right you know? You are probably one of the best in the group."
Kathrin chuckled. "One of the best? I am for sure the best... I have to be. My parents were top explorers... They had the diamond rank..."
Brighton, Damion and Craw looked at each other a bit nervous. Kathrin rarely spoke about herself.
Brighton looked to her. "Was? Did they..."
Kathrin looked to the boys a bit annoyed. "Well since you all told me about yourselves I should tell you a bit about myself as well I think. Would only be fair... Yes my parents died... Or at least that is what I think. One day they were sent to take on a special task... It was a S+ class task. The hardest tasks after L so legendary class tasks. They never came back from it..."
Brighton looked to her. "I am sorry..."
Kathrin shook her head. "That's already some years ago... They taught me the most things I know about exploring dungeons. Some things I learned myself later but the most they taught me... They were good explorers but not good enough..."
Craw looked to her. "And that is why you want to be the best right? You don't want to disappear like your parents right?"
Kathrin sighed. "Maybe... I am not sure..."
Brighton grinned. "Well then it's all settled. You will become a part of our team!"
Kathrin looked to him confused. "What the hell do you mean?"
Brighton chuckled. "Well you will need a team later and I bet Ariela would love to stay with Craw. Wouldn't it be the best if you come with us then? You are a really great explorer and you surely don't want to wait till someone invites you to their team or to force Ariela to not come with us. You would be a great addition to our team and we would like to have you in so what do you say?"
Kathrin looked to him and for a moment they could see that she was excited about the offer but she quickly hid it and acted all cool. "Well I don't see a problem with that... It's a pretty good idea and I don't see why this shouldn't work. But if you start flirting with me in your sweet tongue talk I will punch you again. I want to concentrate on the training and I can't need a distraction right now."
Brighton chuckled. "OK deal."
Damion smiled. "Welcome to the team Kathrin!" He lifted his arms and walked towards her.
Kathrin rolled her eyes. "If you try to hug me now I am out again."
Damion blushed and stopped.
Kathrin stretched herself. "Well I should get some sleep now. Also I should see if Ariela is back already."
Craw nodded. "Please say her good night from me."
Kathrin waved her paw as she left the room. "Yeah yeah..." She went back to her and Ariela's room. As she entered she saw that Ariela was already back and stood in front of the window watching out of it. Kathrin sighed. "How are you now?"
Ariela turned around and looked to her. "Huh? Oh Kathrin you are back... Where have you been?"
Kathrin sighed and sat onto her bed. "I was with the boys and helped Craw with his work."
Ariela blinked as he heard Craw's name. She smiled. "Oh... How did it go?"
Kathrin rolled with her eyes. "Pretty good. He isn't as dumb as I thought. But now answer my question please. How are you?"
Ariela sighed. "I am fine... I just have to think about it a bit. We had so much to talk about... If I would have known that my father... my real father was so close all the time..."
Kathrin lay down. "I can understand that... If I would find out that my parents were still alive and live so close to me I would also have a lot to talk with them..."
Ariela shook her head. "I wasn't angry... He didn't know about me neither... As he heard that my mom told me it was from one of the Riolu line he realized that he was my father... He didn't even know he had a daughter..." She sighed and let herself fall onto her bed. "At least I know now that it isn't Craw... I was so... I mean can you imagine it? Dating your own dad... That just made me crazy..."
Kathrin sighed. "At least I understand now why you were so strange..."
Ariela turned her head to look to her. "I am sorry for that."
Kathrin sighed. "It's fine... I can understand that. I am just a bit sorry that I nearly broke Craw's muzzle over that... He is actually a pretty nice guy." She looked to the ceiling. "Just this Brighton annoys me so much... That prince is such a sweet talker... I hate that..."
Ariela giggled.
Kathrin glanced to her. "What now?"
Ariela smiled. "I think you two would make a great pair."
Kathrin rolled her eyes. "Don't even dare trying to couple us."
Ariela giggled and looked to the ceiling. "Don't worry. I will let you two sort that out on yourselves."
Kathrin blushed a bit. "What do you mean with that now? I don't even like him!"
Ariela grinned. "You forget with who you are talking here."

At the next morning they all sat together at the table again. Ariela smiled and put her plate with her breakfast next to Craw's and sat down next to him before she kissed him softly. "Good morning Craw."
Craw smiled and kissed her back. "Good morning Ariela." He sighed. "I am so happy that everything is alright again."
Ariela grinned. "Yeah. I hope you excuse my behavior."
Craw stroked her cheek softly. "I can understand... I would have acted the same if I would have been in your position."
Ariela sighed. "I just wish I would have known earlier that Anubis was my father... Then-"
"WHAT?!" Both Damion and Brighton gasped.
Ariela smiled and looked to Craw. "You didn't tell them?"
Craw shrugged. "It was something private and I thought you would probably don't want me to tell them."
Ariela smiled. "Thank you for your concerns but it's fine." She looked to Brighton and Damion before she whispered to them. "Well you see... Anubis told me that my mother was married with Craw and I thought that he could be my father since my mom told me that my real father was from the Riolu line. But Anubis told me that Craw and my mom separated long before I was born and that he was together with my mom in the time she conceived me." She smiled calmly. "That was also the reason why I was so upset... I feared Craw is my father but it is Anubis." She sighed.
Brighton and Damion looked to her surprised.
Damion nearly fell from his chair.
Brighton on his side leaned back a bit and sighed. "Wow... That are really some news..."
Ariela nodded. "But please. I want it to stay a secret between us OK?"
Brighton bit into his berries. "Sure. I will be as silent as a grave."
Damion nodded. "Sure thing. Nobody will learn about it from me."
Ariela smiled and so the five started eating.
After they finished they went to class again. Since it was Saturday they only had a half day of class and would have free the rest of the day.
Craw sighed as Anubis started testing them for what they learned the previous days. Luckily he had learned all the time and was ready for it. He was surprised and a bit happy too about how well it went.
As Anubis was finished with the class he stood up from his desk. "OK we are finished for this week. If you need some coaching you can ask me. I have some spare time on the weekend. But now to something that you all probably are waiting for already. The best ten of this week. I am surprised but it seems that Craw is again one of the ten best. So the coaching I went through for you wasn't a waste." He grinned a bit proud. "Well but since you already have an enhancer you won't be considered for a second one. So we will instead take the eleventh best into the list. Kathrin you have the best results of all. Come here please." He took out a pendant from his drawer. This one was golden and had a diamond shape with a red gem in the middle.
Kathrin went to Anubis and touched the pendant. Like Craw guessed nothing happened.
"OK. Next is Brighton."
Brighton stepped forward and touched the pendant. Again nothing happened.
"Ariela."
Craw held his breath. He wondered if he would try the same trick as with him.
Ariela went to Anubis and touched the pendant. As nothing happened Craw sighed.
"Kane. You are next."
An Electrike stepped to Anubis and touched the pendant. Again nothing happened.
"Lucas. Your turn."
A Murkrow went to him and touched the pendant but nothing happened.
"Colleen."
A Cloom came to try it but again nothing happened.
"Now would be Craw... The next on the list is Craig."
This time it was a Machop. He touched the pendant but again it didn't react.
"Lyanne. Your turn."
A Karrablast came to him touching the pendant. Like before nothing happened.
"Simon."
A Shinx nearly danced to him so excited he was but as he touched the pendant the pendent let him down by not glowing.
"And the eleventh best is Ryan."
A Pancham stood up nervously and went to him. He touched the pendant but nothing happened. The Pancham seemed to be relieved by it.
Anubis nodded. "Well it is a really rare case to find someone with a fitting aura. That Craw found a fitting one is like a one in a million chance..."
Craw rolled his eyes. He knew that it wasn't the truth.
Anubis smiled. "But if you work hard and become a good explorer you might be able to find one yourself. Because one thing about the power enhancer is special. That is something that only a few know till now. If you find a power enhancer and are the first one who touches it it will automatically adapt to the finders aura. So if you are lucky and you are the first touching one you will automatically be the one who can use it. The ones we have are from Pokémon that found them and died later." He glanced to Craw. "With other words if one of the pendants react to you you have the very same aura as the finder."
Everyone looked to Craw with curiosity.
Blake a Poochyena was the first asking the question that everyone seemed to think about. "Who was the Pokémon that owned it before him?"
Anubis shook his head. "I won't say who. I won't say it for any of the pendants. That would cause expectations and fears towards those who have one. It is not fair to judge someone because he has the same aura as someone who was a hero or a villain."
The class nodded and looked to him.
Anubis smiled. "Well then. You can go into your weekend."
Everyone stood up happily and started leaving. Craw smiled and took Ariela's hand. "Wanna do something together?"
Ariela giggled. "You are fast to catch up where we stopped huh?"
Craw blushed a bit. "Well... If you want we can make a break..." He flattened his ears.
Ariela smiled and kissed his cheek. "It's OK. I would like to do something with you. But I think we should talk a bit first."
Craw's tail wagged and he nodded. "Yeah."
Brighton chuckled. "May I interrupt you two for a moment?" He grabbed Craw's arm. "I have to lend Craw from you for a moment." He then pulled the Riolu away.
Craw looked to him confused. "Hey! What the heck are you doing?"
Brighton grinned and searched for something in his bag handing a small sack to him. "Here. A bit money so you can go out with her. And don't even dare to refuse." He then turned before Craw could say something. "Have fun!" Then he ran away.
Craw looked at Brighton running away for a moment. As he realized what just happened he sighed, grinned and shook his head. He peeked into the little sack that was full of gold and silver coins. He stored it away into his bag and then went back to Ariela. "Can we go now? I know a great little café where we can eat something and talk."
Ariela smiled and nodded. "Sounds great."

Brighton grinned. "You ready Kathrin?"
Kathrin sighed. "I still think this isn't the best idea."
Brighton grinned. "C'mon. If we gonna be team mates in future we should learn to work together."
Kathrin looked to him. "Yeah but..."
Brighton chuckled. "No buts. I mean I don't know any better exercise than this. See it as really exciting training."
Kathrin grinned. "OK. Count me in."
Brighton grinned widely. "Sad we couldn't invite Damion tho."
Kathrin shrugged. "Yeah but he is too inexperienced."

Craw smiled and held Ariela's hands. "So what do you want to talk about?"
Ariela smiled weakly. "Well... I would like to tell you a bit about mom... I mean you were married with her but you don't know a thing about her."
Craw sighed. "Because I don't want to... I want to get even with the thoughts I am struggling right now... I don't want to get more things to think about right now."
Ariela looked into his eyes. A bit of sadness was in her face. "But she is a part of me. Without her I wouldn't exist... Wouldn't you want to know who or how my mom was if she wouldn't have been part of your past?"
Craw thought about this question for a moment. "Yes I would... But this is different... I need to think about it..."
Ariela looked to him. "But why? If you don't want to know it... If you don't want to know about one of the most important parts of my life then at least explain me why."
Craw sighed and looked to her. "What if I find out that I love you because somewhere in my subconsciousness I remember her? What if there is still something left from my last life that makes you remember me on her? I don't want that... I want to love you only because you are you and not like her..."

Brighton panted while he stood behind Kathrin. "Damn it is so tight..."
Kathrin rolled her eyes. "Do you have any problems with that?"
Brighton sighed. "Nah it's fine."
Kathrin moved around a bit trying to find a more comfortable position. "Good. Then be quiet or someone will find us."

Craw looked to her nervously. "Of course I want... I want to know everything about you... But it is hard for me... I already worry about so much... That is why I told Anubis not to tell me something about my past life... At least not now. At least not as long as I am not sure about what I should think... Everything I thought I knew was a lie... At the moment the only thing I am sure about is that I love you. What if that is also not true?"
Ariela looked to him a bit sad. "You don't want to know if you really love me? You would rather live with the fear and the uncertainty if you love me or not instead of knowing the truth? What if you really just feel like this for me because I am like my mom? Then it would be false love! It would be unfair! Especially towards me!" She was close to cry and just left the café.
"Ariela wait!" He ran after her leaving some money on the table.

Brighton panted and stopped for a moment.
Kathrin growled. "Damn it Brighton faster!"
Brighton panted and nodded to her. "Damn... You are really good at this."
Kathrin glared to him angrily. "Damn it stop flirting and come already."
Brighton sighed. "OK OK..."

Craw sighed and panted as he finally caught up to her. They ran nearly through the whole city. Craw was a bit surprised and very impressed that she could run for that long. "Ariela please..."
Ariela had stopped and looked down.
Craw was out of breath because of the long run. He used the time he needed for taking some breaths to look around. They were in some kind of garden. It was a really beautiful garden and someone seemed to care very well for it. After he recovered a bit he went to Ariela. "Hey... please let's talk about it..."
Ariela sobbed. "You should maybe have stayed away..."
Craw looked to her confused. He noticed that she was standing in front of a tombstone. As Craw read the inscription he saw the name Grace. He was able to suppress a gasp. "That is your mother's grave..."
Ariela nodded. "I always come here when I am sad and don't know what to do... "
Craw nodded and looked to the tombstone.
Here lies Grace, beloved wife and mother.

Brighton panted lying on Kathrin's back.
Kathrin growled quietly. "Get down from me already."
Brighton sighed and nodded slowly climbing down. "Damn... That was hard..."
Kathrin sighed. "Yeah but I had to carry you along the half of the way."
Brighton grinned weakly. "Yeah... Thanks for that... I definitely have to work on my endurance..."
Kathrin nodded. "Yeah that would be better."
Brighton looked down at the two. "I would never have thought that following them is such a workout."
Kathrin grinned. "I am rather happy about it. I already started to get bored."

Craw looked to Ariela. "OK... Tell me everything about her..."
Ariela looked to him with tears in her eyes. "I don't want to force you."
Craw sighed and went to her. "You didn't let me answer." He kissed her softly. "I wanted to tell you that you were right. Either I live in uncertainty and can never be sure to really love you what would be as bad as only loving you because you are like your mother or I know the truth. But I am sure about one thing. I love you and it doesn't matter why."
She looked to him with tears in her eyes. "You have no idea how much that means to me..."
Then they heard a cracking sound and a branch of one of the trees together with an Eevee and a Pikachu fell down behind them.
Brighton blushed and rubbed his head lying upside down looking to Craw. "Ouch... Uhm... Hi... How was your day?"

Autor's note: :P I hope you didn't thought I really would write a sex scene... Well who knows but no... Or would I? Only time can tell. However after all the twists I wanted to write something less... twisty XD OK I made a little twist there but that was just for the lols and not really plot relevant.
One more chapter and I will take some days off of writing. I have to take care of RL stuff.
Also I want to tell you that I read every review and am happy about your feedback. I just don't answer because I think it is a bit strange to answer in my own reviews and PMs will become like work. If I really want to answer to a review I will still do that but that will only be if I feel like it. So please don't take it personally if I don't answer on reviews.

Still searching for a beta reader