Chapter 12: Doubts from the Outside...

What followed after these changes were weeks without any real events. Aurora was simply not in a state to train and gather strength. That's why she spent most of her time at home, waiting for things to get better, only occasionally interrupted by visitors, usually from Marshadow or now and again Aurorus. There was no significant news during this time. Despite everything, Aurora's new teammate still spent the nights outside, near the Polar Lake, even though Aurora had already offered him the room in which Kel had stayed. She hardly thought about the Growlithe she had once known anymore. Kel had been nothing but a small hurdle on her way to a greater future. Around two weeks later, she was ready to start training again, which she and Marshadow did immediately. The fact that Marshadow wasn't particularly strong, especially for a former close partner of Epsilon, was a disadvantage because he couldn't take the team to a higher league on his own, but it was much more pleasant for training and balance. One afternoon, after training, he dragged Aurora to Tyrantrum and Aurorus again.

"I had forgotten a small but important detail in my information about Epsilon the other day."

From the shadows that were entwined around his neck, he pulled a small, button-like object.

"This is a voice transmitter, a device that his closest supporters use to keep in touch with Epsilon. No one will wear such a thing openly, but if you ever see a button like this on a Pokemon, then it is a close supporter of Epsilon, maybe even part of the Plot Elite. He deactivated this one as soon as I came here with Aurora though."

The object that was the focus here was half red and half white, with a rather small dot in the middle. Aurora had actually never seen such a pattern before, but for some reason it seemed strangely familiar to her.

"I can leave the transmitter here if you want to examine it."

Aurorus declined, however.

"The fact that these things exist is enough information. How such a device works is really nothing new."

The new Polarna vatra thought that this conversation was over, but as they were about to leave, they were stopped again.

"One second you two, I want to talk to you about something important."

Tyrantrum seemed surprised, but knew what it was about.

"Wait a minute! We said something about a trustworthy team!"

Reproachful looks followed from every other Pokemon in the room.

"Now don't look at me like that! Do you really blame me for thinking that we should not entrust such a sensitive task to a Pokemon that was fighting at Epsilon's side just a few weeks ago?"

This beating around the bush annoyed Aurora.

"Can we perhaps know what this is all about?"

Aurorus answered, obviously not agreeing with his teammate's objection.

"Of course you can. It's about a very important task for which we need trustworthy and strong Pokemon. A team. And you may be low in the rankings at the moment, but I'm optimistic that you're stronger than that suggests. After all, your team has only had one battle, and that was before you and Marshadow evolved. So... Tyrantrum and one of the league's teams have come up with an idea. Next Thursday, all the teams in the league will fan out. It's supposed to be a major operation, a surprise at that, to find and surprise Epsilon and followers. All teams should search for followers or Epsilon, which will also be made easier by Marshadow's new information. But of course we can't just leave the tower completely unguarded, considering the power plant. That's why we want to find a trustworthy team. Especially after your last encounter with Epsilon, I thought it would make sense to leave you both here as guards. I strongly suspect that nothing will happen anyway and that you'll basically just have a day of free time alone in the tower, but I still see you as the most suitable Pokemon for this position."

Aurora was truly honored by Aurorus' trust, but Tyrantrum was still opposed to the idea.

"We can't trust Marshadow that much! Besides, the assumption that they are stronger than rank 433 is not exactly enough if something does happen. I'm in favor of Team Slash taking for the job again!"
"The two of them have been watching over the generator far too often and for far too long for their own good. Besides, weren't they the ones who first came up with the idea of this operation in the first place?"

Still seeing dissatisfaction, Aurorus made a suggestion.

"Very well, Tyrantrum, if you're so worried, let's make a deal. Aurora, Marshadow, you will take the position mentioned if you win your league match the day after tomorrow. That should be enough as proof of strength!"
"In two rounds!"

Tyrantrum's sudden interjection startled Aurora.

"Beating rank 412 means jack shit! If the two of them manage it without needing a third round, then I'll accept it!"

Aurora really didn't like this new condition, but Aurorus seemed even more confident than she did.

"Good, you two heard it. I believe that you two can do it."

He added a little more quietly to Aurora.

"You have the type advantage anyway. See it as a chance to get back at Tyrantrum for acting like a dick all the time."
"Hey! I heard that!"
"I know. So, does anyone have any questions? Otherwise, I'll see you the day after tomorrow at sunset on floor 30."

A bet wasn't exactly what Aurora had in mind for her second league battle, but she couldn't say no now anyway. Instead, she and Marshadow went to a training field to prepare. However, they met two Pokemon there who would be anything but helpful during training.

"Oh, Aurora. So you're back. So you're preparing for a bet? Then you better hurry up, otherwise we'll end up having to stay here again!"

How did Zeraora already know about the bet? Like, yeah, they took a quick stop to grab some food before coming here, but Tyrantrum and Aurorus still made it just minutes ago. Zeraora gave an answer to this question, which was not particularly helpful.

"Zoroark knows about the bet from Aurorus and I know it from her."

Zoroark jumped briefly at the mention of her name.

"Yes... because I developed the concept for the project, Aurorus is in contact with me and radioed me directly."

Radioed? Marshadow hadn't known that this was an option in the league either, but neither of them was bothered. Also, the fossil had just stated that the functionality of a transmitter of speech was well-known to him.

"So? How about it? Do you want a practice round against us to see that you're nowhere near our level still?"

Weighing up the options, Aurora decided quite quickly.

"A short fight won't do any harm, I think."

No sooner said than done. There wasn't much to say about the duel between the two teams. Zeraora really followed hs words with actions and won quite dominantly against Aurora. Zoroark and Marshadow had a very interesting duel, but in the end experience won out, which was clearly on Zoroark's side.

"I have to give you credit where it's due, that was much better than last time. Don't slack and you'll win the bet easily!"

These motivating words came as a big surprise, but still less surprising than the following hint by Zoroark.

"By the way, the day after tomorrow you'll be fighting against a rather notorious Lower League team. They're actually only known for being around 400th place and never even reaching the three-hundreds. A Snivy and a Lillipup. Especially since Snivy starts in approximately 93% of all their fights, they're very predictable and therefore easily beatable."

Somewhat surprised by all this help, Aurora thanked them.

"Don't think too much off it, Mon. We just want you to win that bet cause I can't be bothered to miss out on that raid!"

With these words, Zeraora disappeared, but Zoroark stayed behind for a moment, looking nervously after her leader.

"Can I... talk to you for a moment, Aurora?"
"Uh, sure?"
"Everyone has been talking about how you faced Epsilon by now. And I also know that you still want to fight him."

A mixture of fear and worry filled her voice now.

"Please try to understand, Aurora. You are taking on something that is above you. Believe me, I know Epsilon better than most Pokemon. If he had even tried to take you out, you wouldn't be alive anymore! This is something you should sit out, as hard as it may be!"
"You know more about Epsilon than most people? Why is that, what do you have to do with him?"

Zoroark looked nervously at the ground.

"Well, I... I was one of the first to consider Epsilon a threat. I did a lot of research back then. I even wrote a book about everything I found out. And if I learned anything back then, it is to avoid Epsilon as much as possible! You don't know what he's capable of, Aurora. Please... for your own good, don't push your luck like that!"

The fear in Zoroark's voice really worried Aurora, but what she had said was also very surprising.

"You wrote that book?"
"Do you know it?"
"Yeah, I've got it at home. It was the first contact Kel had with Epsilon."

Zoroark also flinched when she heard the Growlithe's name.

"I... understand. Aurora, if you don't get me, then please read the book. Please. Maybe then you'll understand my concerns."

She looked at her left arm, still wrapped in a red cloth, just like when Aurora first met her.

"Please believe me."
"Zoroark? You coming?"

With a final sideways glance, Zoroark left, following her team leader. Aurora stayed behind, somewhat thrown off track by this conversation. Of course she knew how dangerous Epsilon was, but was this really a reason for such concern? Never before had she seen such fear in the eyes of a Pokemon. Or... somehow she did. Somewhere in her soul, that look seemed to resonate, but she just couldn't understand where it came from. At the same time, the Ninetales associated the memory, which she couldn't find, not with sadness, but with anger. Nothing that was going on in her mind at the moment made any sense. She tried to just shake off these thoughts and get back to training. During a few training matches she also asked Marshadow about Epsilon.

"Tell me... do you know anything else about Epsilon? Any reason why Zoroark is so scared?"

Her teammate took the matter much more lightly than Aurora herself.

"I've told you everything I know about Epsilon. She's probably just scared, which is understandable. Not everyone has the willpower to throw themselves into a fight with the Plot Emperor like you do."

Aurora tried to believe in this explanation, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

"But... if she really wrote this book, then she might know more than we do. If she did so much research... and the way she looked at her bandaged arm was also strange. What if she's already met Epsilon herself."
"I'm far from omniscient when it comes to Epsilon either. I definitely don't rule out that she knows something that I've never found out. But on the other hand, Zoroark just doesn't seem like a Pokemon that's all that ready to fight and brave."
"Yeah... kind of. But... the fear in her voice, the fear in her eyes, her arm... What if Epsilon herself is the reason she's behaving like this? I just can't believe there really isn't more to it. Something inside me rebels against the thought, against these assumptions."

Determined to get Aurora's focus back on training, Marshadow tried to calm her down.

"It is quite possible that your own encounter with Epsilon has changed something in you. But if you want to be sure, just use the time tonight and read Zororak's book. After all, she said herself that you would understand her afterwards."
"You... are right."

Despite this, Aurora could hardly concentrate on her training for the rest of the day. Her thoughts were still on the conversation, already completely absorbed in reading Zoroark's book. Otherwise she would not know the truth. But did she even want to know this truth?