Chapter 56: It's Showtime!
One last round. Two fights decided the fate of the Plot Armor. And as much as it hurt Aurora... Eternatus had truly been a gift. As much as Marshadow questioned him just now.
"By the way, Eternatus... if you're fighting for us here in Epsilon's name, what the hell is Darkrai actually doing? Isn't that counterproductive for Epsilon?"
"You are a quick one, aren't you? This asshole does what he wants! Epsilon did not order him to fight here! But his stupid team is just oh so important to him! That's why I even had to show up here! Because there is nothing but idiots surrounding me in the Plot Elite!"
This was followed by a piercing look at Marshadow, who didn't react.
"Well then... Eternatus, do your job."
Every time this dragon entered the field, Aurora felt guilty. She tried to justify it herself, through the Plot Armor and Elementareon's refusal, but she couldn't even really convince herself. The crowd fell silent as soon as they saw the dragon. In these minutes, the shining newcomers of Polarna vatra became a bunch of losers who allied themselves with Epsilon's closest advisor to cheat their way to an undeserved victory. Apparently their opponents had already expected the Anti-visionary this time, because Latias entered the field. She was the only one who could effectively hit this monster. And... be effectively hit while once again appearing to be completely ineffective because the massive dragon didn't move an inch.
"Team Polarna vatra takes the lead. A single fight and they are the new champions."
Kel against Totodile. This duel could decide the outcome. Or it could go similarly to the battle between Kel and Silvally. Moreover, thanks to the quick and lucky two-on-two defeat, no one from Team Polarna vatra had any idea what exactly mae Totodile such a strong fighter. But right from the start he showed that he wanted to be in no way inferior to Tepig. He too was surrounded by an aura, but this one was as bright as light. Totodile's eyes also turned into yellow circles as he immediately brought about a rain storm. One might think that this would be a terrible basis for Kel. But it was precisely for these situations... it was precisely for this that he had Wild Charge. He had learned that the conductivity of the rain and Wild Charge had a special effect and that a spark was enough due to the persistent static to turn the entire area of influence of the rain dance into an electrical death zone. This did harm to Kel... but certainly not more than it would to a Totodile.
In a split second, lightning flashed through the ring. It was a sight that was as unique as it was terrible. Kel also felt all the electric shocks coursing through his veins, but he tried to remain steadfast. A look ahead, however, showed him... Totodile stood in the middle of the new storm, completely motionless. His eyes looked directly at Kel, as if to say "you underestimated me." Before the Arcanine could react, he felt the impact of a powerful Hydro Pump.
"Another equalizer. One on one in the third match of the Champion's Duel! A final two against two will decide it all!"
A little wet but otherwise healthy, Kel arrived back in the locker room for a final meeting. That was it. A single fight, nothing more. Every step could now decide. Whether in the fight itself... or before. And Aurora had seen enough. All the faces in the rows that immediately faded when Eternatus entered the field. The silence, the call of her team. She wanted to fulfill her dream, but that was exactly the point. SHE wanted to fulfill her dream! And nobody else should do it for her!
"So... this is where it ends. Eternatus..."
The dragon was already opening another portal to the ring.
"Give Epsilon my regards! Your help is no longer needed!"
Even her own team didn't seem to understand how this decision had suddenly been made.
"Grimmsnarl already proved it at the beginning of the season. The league is a sport after all. And I'd rather be a good loser than a bad winner. So you can leave! Kel, we'll finish it with the duo that started it all!"
Kel's look was one of surprise, but also joy.
"Y... yes. Let's finish this!"
The rejected intruder himself didn't seem offended or frustrated, but remained very relaxed.
"If you want to be destroyed, then fine. You don't know what you're getting yourself into with this decision. But I can't stop you. You may have just digged your graves."
The elevator slowly went up. Despite her good friend at her side, Aurora felt her heart pounding. She might have just sent her team to certain defeat... was it really worth it? But as soon as the platform reached the top, she got the answer she needed. For the first time since the end of the first match, the crowd went wild. The Pokemon became loud because they knew that they would have a worthy final. Elementareon, who was standing next to Darkrai on the other side, also seemed surprised.
"Where's Eternatus? Won't you just take your free win?"
"No, we won't, Elementareon! I... I can't let this duel end like this. Either we lose as Polarna vatra, or we win as Polarna vatra. But I would never be able to forgive myself if I fulfilled my big dream just because of my greatest enemy!"
For the first time in weeks, Aurora saw in Elementareon's eyes the kindness and openness that she once knew.
"Well then... I have told you often enough how I would love to meet you here. In the final duel. And now, the day has come. Kel, Aurora... Team Polarna vatra... let's fight!"
This was what Aurora had dreamed of. At the side of a friend in the grand final of the Champion's Duel. Kel and she were the beginning of Polarna Vatra and would lead them to the title today. She just knew it! And thus, the fight began. Darkrai immediately tried his tactic, which he had already used to cause big problems on the iceberg. His well-known Double Team. However, Aurora had already shown against Tepig that after this first duel against Darkrai she had learned Blizzard. So all the copies disappeared immediately and the real one was hit too. In the meantime, Elementareon was already doing what she had learned from Aurora a while ago: Charging up Moon Blast. Kel used the time again to form the field and give Aurora protection so that she could unleash her Hail-Aurora Veil combination.
Darkrai now decided on offense against Kel, a tactic that was obvious for this duel. Because Aurora knew that Elementareon and he himself would both be reluctant to see a duel between fairy and dark, between Aurora and Darkrai. Unlike Aurora, who would like to bring this about. She also summoned Moon Blast, but didn't keep track of Elementareon, who used her own. It wasn't that strong against a fairy Pokemon, but it caused the Ninetales to stagger and fall on one of the stone pillars, which Darkrai immediately intercepted and landed several quick blows before Kel intervened. Aurora already felt her body ache. She felt her wounds, which would only disappear as soon as she left this ring. She knew... that she wouldn't be of much help anymore. She was too weak for that.
"Kel... I believe in you, you know?"
"Wha..."
With her own icy pillar, Aurora used her last chance to changedo something in this duel. Instead of sweeping her opponents away like she usually did, this time she used it to push herself and somewhat become a projectile. Elementara, who had already counted out Aurora, didn't see this kamikaze attack coming... Darkrai did though. He quickly pushed his teammate to the side, so that Aurora collided directly with the shadow. Both Pokemon rolled out of the ring at the same time.
"Kel… finish what we started!"
Kel himself stood perplexed in the ring and, like Elementareon, did not understand exactly what had happened. Aurora had not been able to fight anymore, so with one last attempt she had managed to take out Darkrai with her. A one-on-one with Elementareon. The sight brought back memories. This duel had already happened once. Or... not. Depending on what exactly the "bad ending" was... this event had told him so many things. It had saved Aurora's life. And showed him a weakness... the secret weakness. Now Kel finally remembered it. Steel. Elementareon's only weakness. Which pretty much nobody knew. And Elementareon did not know that Kel did.
Both remaining fighters moved carefully through the ring, always keeping an eye on their opponent. Nobody wanted to make the first move, for fear of a counterattack. One hit... just one. It would be enough. This was Kel's big moment. He only had to get in a hit with Iron Head and the Plot Armor would be his! He would have fulfilled Aurora's dream. It was his finest hour, his greatest moment. He would finally prove to himself that he could achieve great things. And so he decided... he would take the first step. He shot forward in a flash and saw Elementareon twitch. That was the moment. He immediately created a rock in front of himself, which he used to brake at full speed! He would counter the counterattack. He immediately prepared Iron Head and broke through the rock behind which Elementareon was waiting to deliver the final blow. All his strength, all his power, went into this attack. And the rock shattered instantly.
It took a moment for Kel to regain his bearings after his own attack. Was the fight over? Had he succeeded? Loud murmuring permeated the crowd and he spotted his opponent. She lay motionless in the danger area. He had hit. He quickly ran towards the fallen Mon... when he realized that he should have taken a closer look. Elementara lay motionless in the danger zone... without a scratch on her body. However, Kel only noticed this inconsistency when a stone pillar rose up beneath him while he was gaining full momentum. After a loud thud when he hit the ground, Kel looked around. He had left the ring. Elementareon was standing in the danger zone, exhausted but still victorious.
The rest of Team Polarna vatra had just arrived in the elevator when Elementareon offered Kel a paw.
"Come on, get up. Good fight, you two!"
The Arcanine hesitated for a moment, but in the face of the raging crowds and this gesture of friendship, a warm feeling ran through him. He gratefully accepted the help and stood up again.
"Good fight, Elementareon. You were the better fighters. Today!"
She just nodded briefly.
"Let's continue talking later. I'll quickly get the microphone."
She set off quickly, with Darkrai following her hesitantly. Team Polarna vatra remained alone in the ring, with crowds around them cheering them on. Aurora was right. It felt good to be a good loser, so much better than to be a bad winner. In the end, it had been a good fight.
"Good fight? A good fight? Never! No! It was a disgrace for all Pokemon! Aurora, how can you be like that! HOW?"
The sun disappeared behind a swirl of dark clouds. Like a tornado in the sky, they gathered and took away most of the light from the ring. In the center of the tornado floated a figure, small and almost unrecognizable from a distance. A blue figure with a sword and a cape. Epsilon!
"It is an insult to all Pokemon! To me! To the Plot! How many chances must I give you, Aurora, tell me! So many times the Plot wanted to guide you, show you the right path, and every single time you refused its help! The Plot saved you from Aurorus, you carried on as if nothing had happened! You died on the iceberg out of sheer stubbornness, but the Plot still needed you! I gifted you your dream! Everything you've ever dreamed of! I gave you the victory against Grimmsnarl, you rejected it! I gifted you the title of champion! The last piece of the Plot Armor! And what do you do? I hold out my hand to you and you spit on it! I gave everything so that the Plot could have its grand finale! It was supposed to be a massacre! Kel in his armor and you against me and the Plot Elite. A fight for life and death, a duel on equal terms. But you know what?"
Lightning struck right in front of Aurora. A kind of dome formed between the lawn and the spectator area, enclosing the entire team, along with Epsilon.
"I've had enough! I have damn well had enough! I was ready to give you a second chance! And a third! And a fourth! And every time, every damn time, you just kept on doing what you wanted to! I don't care what kind of finale the Plot wants! I have done all I could, I have waited for years for you to arrive! And that's how you thank me? I have had it! I have had enough! I will not wait any longer! Right here, right now! Aurora! After all this time! I will have my victory! I will have my reward! I will create the world I so desire! And no longer will I be hindered by the likes of you! It's showtime!"
A/N: Here it is! I had told you before, the endgame would begin with the tournament of champions! And this is why! The final battle is about to begin! Do not miss out!