Chapter 65: The Cost of Peace!
"What? What do you mean?"

Aurora's confusion and anger were clearly reflected in her words. The person concerned reacted with suspicion, understandably after everything that had happened.

"Is this supposed to be another layer of testing? Why shouldn't I be able to stay?"
"It is a truth that I do not want, but cannot avert. It has to do with the foundations of the Plot and your creation, Kel. You are created from Pure Plot, I mentioned that already, the strongest kind of Plot I can create. It is your soul, your entire being. And now that this world shall be free..."

"Please forgive me, both of you. When I created you, Kel, I hoped that you would pass today's test, as a friend of Aurora and because of a sense of justice. But I underestimated you. I never expected that you could ever become so close. Because I knew from the beginning that you would have to leave, Kel."
"But.. why? I don't understand! Why does he have to go now?"

Slowly the anger in Ninetales' voice faded. Instead she began to realize that she had only found her love so that fate could deal her such a blow and grief and frustration began to take place.

"Let me explain this world and the Plot to you. Imagine this world as a kind of giant body. And I, as the author, am the heart of the world. The Plot is the heart of the world. What this world is now to experience is freedom. The author will fade. The life energy of the heart is distributed to the body. If the entire body took over the task of the heart, a being could live. But it would be a difficult adjustment, a time of pain. And now imagine: All the energy that almost threatens to tear the body apart is distributed. But the being's head keeps half of the heart's powers to itself. No part of the body would have what it needs to survive, except for a small part, which, however, cannot live without the rest."

"This energy I am describing, that is you, Kel. If the Plot is spread across the world, the planet will suffer, but be able to adapt. If the Pure Plot remains, however, an imbalance will arise. An imbalance that will tear the world apart from within. If there is to be peace, then you must leave, Kel. Because otherwise the peace will last hours before the apocalypse takes over!"

Aurora wanted to find a way to somehow get around the loss, some way to save Kel.

"But can't you just take his Plot energy and spread it out and let Kel live without that power?"
"Did you hear what I said earlier, Aurora? This is the problem. Kel IS Pure Plot. His very soul is Pure Plot. I could do what you ask, but nothing would remain."

While Aurora continued to try to hold on to a lack of hope, Kel seemed relatively calm, despite knowing that his end was imminent.

"If there is no other way, then so be it. I wish things could be different, but there is no other way."
"Are you sure? Is there really no option for Kel to live somehow? There must be something you can do!"

As irrational as her hopes were, I wished I could have fulfilled them myself. But no real solution came to mind.

"All I could do is create some kind of copy of Kel before I give up my power, created from regular Plot. It would be a slight imbalance, but a tolerable one."

A copy...

"I... no. No! I need Kel here, not a copycat."

When he heard these words, a gentle smile emerged from the Arcanine's lips.

"Aurora... you are strong. You can go on without me."
"No! I... I lost my father, I lost Marshadow, I can't lose you too!"

A mixture of pity and sadness emitted from the Arcanine, but a smile still appeared on his face.

"I know that after everything that has happened, it will be strange for you. But if anyone can carry on, it's you. And you said it yourself earlier, didn't you? What's a single Pokemon's sacrifice in exchange for peace?"

As wrong as it felt to interrupt the debate, I had to stop them both. The area slowly began to blur because my power began to wane.

"Five minutes. That's how long you have until it happens. Then, a single sentence and there will be peace. In these last moments... while I still have strength... you two have been through so much. As long as I still can, is there any wishes I can grant you two?"

For a moment it seemed as if Aurora would continue to insist that I should somehow save her partner, but she changed her mind, knowing that even the twentieth question would not change anything.

"Can... can you bring back the dead? Can Marshadow return?"

I have never had to say yes to a question with as much regret.

"I can bring the dead back to life. But Marshadow lives. You know yourself, he and the shadows are in a foreign dimension, far away from this world. And my influence does not reach there. What applied to Kel also applies to him. A copy is all I can offer."

The frustration was reflected in looks and words.

"I thought you were all-powerful! A god! But once it comes to the Pokemon that mean most to me, you are always powerless? Is this some kind of sick joke?"
"I understand your displeasure and I am truly sorry. But it is neither a joke nor a test, it is the ways of fate. And in this world I can be whoever I want, fate will always be above me. And that, I truly believe, is a good thing."

While Aurora was sinking further into her grief, Kel had an idea that I had already thought of but had not said out loud.

"But Aurora... what... about Hail? Your dad? You wouldn't have to be alone!"

The Ninetales looked up for a moment, but hope quickly faded again.

"It's possible, but... would he even want that? There must have been reasons why he ended his life. What if he doesn't want to come back? And what's more... what would he say when he finds out what Epsilon has done?"

Here, too, the time had come for me to reveal another big twist.

"Well, I'm very sure that he would not mind returning. Because Polar, Epsilon, you, all of you were wrong. One morning you found him dead, on the edge of a cliff near your home. Yes, there may have been signs, but did you ever know for sure that he did this to himself?"

"What? Are you telling me..."

"It was an accident. Nothing more, nothing less. From this place I observed the world and also saw the night in which Hail was startled awake by a noise. He sensed danger for his family. And he left the cave of the mountain. At night in the pitch darkness he could not see whether his fear was justified, but in fear for his loved ones, he forgot to fear nature. He searched for the source of the strange steps he had imagined, but in the dark, on the slipperiest ice... accidents do happen, even to an Ice-type."

Once again Aurora's look revealed more than a thousand words. Yet another belief of her life had been a lie, nothing more. And yet it gave her something to go on!

"And... you think he can really return? You could do that?"

I understood the hidden question behind the open one and answered it.

"As soon as the world is ruled only by all of you, he will walk again on the planet he once had to leave."

Now, finally, there was a glimmer of hope for Aurora, small as it was.

Kel turned to me again. He looked at me, neutral and calm.

"May I also make a wish?"

A nod was enough of an answer.

"After everything that happened... despair, loss, betrayal... Epsilon is no longer dangerous. Please make sure she gets another chance. Even though I was apparently never human, it always felt like I had been given a second chance. And even a third. Every being deserves another chance. Even Epsilon. Especially when Hail returns... things could change."

Although I understood the Pokemon's wish, the expression on Epsilon's own daughter seemed less accepting.

"Aurora, would you like to object?"

She seemed to think about it for just a few seconds, but the decision followed immediately.

"Well... I don't really agree. If it were up to me, she could rot in the darkest prison. But... what I cannot do is deny Kel his last wish."

Again, the Arcanine looked gently, eyes filled with all the feelings that had formed during this journey.

"But my last wish is something else. Not a wish for the author, a wish for you."

He slowly approached Aurora. She knew that as Kel himself approached, his demise was also approaching. He gently placed his forehead against hers.

"If I really am Plot, then I will continue to watch over this world. And I'll always be by your side. So I ask you... I know that you are strong enough to carry on. So don't grief for all your live, but move forward. I will never really be gone. Even if you won't see me."

As tears ran down Aurora's face, she seemed to be at a loss for words. There was so much she could say, three words she had to say... And none she did say.

The moment had come. Bright light flowed through the room. Aurora and Kel both disappeared. Aurora would soon find herself at Polar Lake and Kel... he will never be forgotten.

A creation. A world that I created. A masterpiece. A story. More than a story. All the beings that you were allowed to accompany on this journey... I accompanied them too, no less than you. I, too, am only telling the story of another world. And all of us, each and every one of us, should be grateful. For the fact that there are still people in our world who are like Aurora. Or like Kel. Like Marshadow. Like Tyrantrum. Like Zeraora. None of them are perfect and none of them would ever claim to be. They can't do everything, they aren't omniscient. But they stand by it. And for that they are loyal, helpful. There will always be people who are there when you need them most. We are all just human.

We are all humans with pain and worries. But we live in a world that teaches us to keep these worries to ourselves. They are our business, not someone else's. But look at what Kel experienced. What would have happened, tell me, if he kept believing in this?

Great has passed. The grandest of all journeys. We all followed it together for many, many weeks. And now, as a reward for all their work, all their pain, all their suffering, the time has come. I once created a world, created just for a story. But then it happened. Its inhabitants came to life. And quickly, the world became more. A living world. And today, the day has finally come, the day to free it from it's shackles. Because words hold power. Even one sentence can change lives.

My shadow will remain in this world of Plot, living in the remains of the Valley of the Mind. He will be an observer, but also a living being. Just like all the Pokemon. Not a god, not a leader. Just a somebody. I myself will also remain, but only as an observer. I will continue to visit this world in my mind, as I, too, want to see what the future will hold.

And now it is time. The power of the author. Through my words! Hail returns to the world he once left. Epsilon is released from her guilt to start another new life. I will also leave a souvenir for the entire league near the coast. A little present.

And now the sentence that will end it all.

And so, the author gave away all the power of the Plot. It spread across the entire world, becoming part of every Pokemon. From one creation a world emerged, similar to, if more beautiful than, ours. And whatever the future may bring it...

It is no longer in my hands. Every Pokemon can change its future. The greatest wish of the Plot Warrior. And to you, Aurora... I wish you all the best. You are strong. And you will never be forgotten, not in your world and not by those who know your story here. And who knows... now that you can define your own destiny... perhaps you can do greater things than I ever could...

The End!

A/N: Well, at least somewhat "The End". We have reached the ending of the main story of Plot of War! And what a ride it was! BUT the story is not yet over! There's still a little more left! While we have reached the end of the main story, there will still be a few chapters of what I call "Afterstory" and a short epilogue after that. And, as told before, there will also be War of Plot Specials, the third one being about Kel following the order to actually fight Aurora here, by the way, as well as a whole spin-off series! Which, I can now also tell you, will follow the path of Epsilon as the protagonist in "Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Another War of Plot"! Thus, the story is not over yet. But the main part is. Thank you all for reading!