Chapter 11: The New Polarna vatra!

Pain numbed Aurora's body as her consciousness returned. She felt strange, in a strange state like never before. On the one hand, she was battered, tormented and yet she felt fresh, almost like... reborn. Slowly, her memories also returned. Memories of the fight against Epsilon, a battle she could not have won. Memories of the betrayal she had suffered. How could she ever have trusted Kel when he clearly showed that he did not trust her?

She slowly began to wake up, still confused by the past events. When she slowly opened her eyes, many things were expected, but to see Marshadow sitting in front of her was not one of them! She immediately tried to shoot up, but the pain stopped her.

"You're finally awake! Calm down, Aurora! You're wounded and you need to take care of yourself."

A look at herself showed Aurora that her condition was really fatal. To be honest, she really did not know how she was even alive. Although the Ninetales didn't feel particularly comfortable around Marshadow, she had no way of escaping. Also, on the other hand it didn't seem as if he wanted to harm her. He would have had the opportunity to do so before.

"What... happened? Why are you here and where is Epsilon?"

Marshadow considered his options for a moment. He didn't really want to lie, but on the other hand he didn't know how much of the truth Aurora could handle in her current state. It was also possible that she wouldn't believe him and he would immediately lose the little trust she had. So he decided to tell a white lie, not out of malice but for the good of both of them.

"Well... I don't know what you still remember but... Epsilon found you and Kel here and challenged you to a fight. You evolved and the Growlithe took its opportunity and simply left you behind. He hid like a coward. You stood up to Epsilon anyway, but lost because Epsilon simply has too much power. Before Epsilon could deal the final blow, however, he wanted to make Kel pay for the betrayal, as he was still hiding in this cave. At that point I intervened... a little late, I know... I didn't think Epsilon would go that far. I stopped him, Kel fled and Epsilon disappeared. Since then I've been waiting here until you woke up again."

Aurora herself still remembered some of it, most of the rest seemed perfectly logical. The whole explanation made sense, except for one point.

"And why would you help me? Last time we met, you fought us in Epsilons name!"

Although it was all the truth, Marshadow found it difficult to put it into words.

"I support the Plot, not behind Epsilon's actions. If he acts according to the Plot, then I'm on his side too, because I want to help the Plot. But..."

He hesitated again, deciding on an alternative truth.

"...I don't want anyone innocent to suffer, or even someone the Plot wants to support. Actually, I don't want anyone to suffer. If Epsilon had gone after Kel alone, fine, he deserves it at this point. But you don't. The goal is and remains what Epsilon said. A world free of traitors and criminals. But... well, I just can't support Epsilon anymore. I still stand for the Plot, but no longer for him! Instead..."

More hesitation.

"Listen, I'm ready to give you and the League the little information I have about Epsilon. For more than that, he didn't trust me enough. And rightly so it seems. I want to help take action against Epsilon. And... help Team Polarna vatra too. You probably don't believe a word I say and you might think I'm stupid for even telling you any of this. And I couldn't blame you. But... now that Kel is gone, Team Polarna vatra can no longer exist without a second Pokemon. Aurora, this request probably seems completely crazy, but... I would like to join Polarna vatra!"

The whole situation completely overwhelmed Aurora. There were too many factors she had to consider, but she just wasn't in the mood for it.

"Marshadow, I'm ready to trust you, but can we please head back to Kira Town first?"
"Of course! Let me help with that!"

Suddenly Aurora's entire world was drowned in darkness again. When the light returned this time, she found herself in front of the entrance to the League Tower. The sun was already setting again and many of those present gave her confused looks.

"What the hell was that?"
"We moved through the shadows. My specialty. I thought it was the best method given your condition and time constraints. Sorry if it was too surprising."

Aurora carefully tried to get up. Pain returned, but she managed to stay standing.

"Then... let's report what happened!"

It took a while until Aurora managed to reach the elevator and both Pokemon now went up to floor 47. After the familiar sound and a few more slow moments, Marshadow knocked on the familiar door to the office. There was silence for a moment before a quiet click and an exclamation followed.

"Come in!"

Both Aurora and Marshadow entered the hallowed halls of the League Founders. As soon as Aurora entered the room, she was greeted in panic by Aurorus.

"Aurora! What happened to you!"

He immediately turned to his team partner.

"Tyrantrum, get her some help! Quickly!"

At first Aurora wanted to object, but for once her reason prevailed over her pride. She really needed help and she knew it.

"Sit down, you don't have to stand around, Aurora. Can you explain what happened...?"
"Marshadow. My name is Marshadow. And I will explain everything."

No sooner said than done. Marshadow left out no detail that Aurora knew, nothing about his collaboration with Epsilon, about the events in the cave or his current plans. Tyrantrum, who had since returned, had a lot to say about the stories.

"So we have got a follower of Epsilon here! Basically a criminal, just like that Growlithe! It doesn't surprise me that nothing good came from him!"

Marshadow did not actually want to contradict, but the comparison that Tyrantrum had drawn was a step too far for him.

"I do not want to be compared to a dirty traitor like this Growlithe! I have honor!"

Aurorus also defended the ghost in this situation.

"I understand your displeasure, Tyrantrum, but look at the bright side. Marshadow is obviously willing to give us all the information that he has. He also saved Aurora. Or do you think that's a bad thing?"

Tyrantrum's hesitation shocked the Ninetales for just a second before she realized that it was solely due to his displeasure with Marshadow.

"Of course not!"
"That's what I thought. So let's make it simple. Marshadow, close cooperation with Epsilon is a criminal offense. However, if you give us the information you have, we'll simply forget that this alliance ever existed, okay?"
"You want information? Alright. Unfortunately, Epsilon does not trust many Pokemon, so I don't know which Pokemon is under the mask."

This information alone startled Aurora, to the displeasure of Shiinotic, a healer who had been summoned by Tyrantrum. "Mask? Pokemon? So Epsilon actually is a Pokemon?"

Marshadow looked at her in confusion.

"What? Didn't you even know that Epsilon was a Pokemon?"

Aurorus answered for her.

"Not for sure. Many suspected it, but certainly no one knew. So "Epsilon" as it is is just a suit, right?"
"Yes and no. Epsilon is the Pokemon under the suit. However, in public, he does not reveal himself under this name. Epsilon always wears the suit when he is out for his schemes. But this was not the important information that I wanted to give. Because I know Epsilon's weakness. His great fear. Aurora, do you know why Epsilon is guarding the iceberg? Because in the tunnels an ancient object is stored. A piece of armor. An armor of which four pieces are scattered around the world. Epsilon had two of them and hid them away, one in the iceberg, one on the volcano. The other two, I don't know. I know that Epsilon also had a third at some point, yet even he did not know where exactly it went. He had somebody else hide it. This armor, it is the direct counter to his powers. This so-called Plot Armor is the weapon that weakens Epsilon the most."

An armor with the power to defeat Epsilon? Aurora had never heard of such a thing before.

"And if you collect this armor, you can defeat Epsilon? But how is that supposed to help us if he himself is defending part of it?"
"Well, on the one hand, Epsilon is not invincible. There is no such thing as an immortal Pokemon. He can be defeated without Plot Armor, but having it makes it a lot easier. But even then, victory is not certain. The purpose of the Plot Armor is truly to give a Pokemon the strength to fight an exciting finale against Epsilon. And that's where the tricky part of it all comes into play... Epsilon will defend the plot armor from everyone whom the Plot itself denies access to. But Epsilon knows himself that the Plot will require a big finale. A great battle. And for that, a Pokemon will have to collect the Plot Armor. It's what the Plot itself requires. But I never found out which Pokemon was chosen for this, even though Epsilon did know. And, just after I spoke to him again, before Aurora... woke up again..."

Marshadow paused briefly in his explanations, his gaze now directed at Aurora.

"In short, I am convinced that you are chosen by the Plot to collect the Plot Armor, Aurora."
"I am WHAT?"

The Pokemon concerned was not the only one who did not know how much credence she could give to this assumption.

"And how the hell did you come up with that idea? There are many Pokemon that would make more sense to be chosen!"

Marshadow's look, which he gave Tyrantrum, was full of dislike.

"You two did not see how she faced Epsilon. Such incredible determination, such willpower, and that despite being stabbed in the back just seconds before. Body and soul both have to be strong in order to be able to use the Plot Armor. And only a few Pokemon do not let their soul be corrupted by power. Of course there are exceptions there too, but... I am just very sure! Epsilon's reactions would make so much sense!"

It seemed so incredibly strange, but Aurora could still somehow get used to the idea. She had always wished that she could bring Epsilon to his knees and would stop his eternal tyranny. If she was really chosen...

"Well... I'm willing to take the risk. When I've recovered and trained a bit more, I'll head to the volcano and look for the armor. Even if I were to be the wrong Pokemon, if we get the armor, we would have it ready for the actual chosen one."

Aurorus decided to move on to the last topic at this point.

"Speaking of training, Aurora... Team Polarna vatra was actually supposed to have a league battle in three days. Of course, it won't take place, but what I need to know is: should I postpone it or cancel it completely? It depends on whether you accept Marshadow's request. If you let him join the team, then you can compete. If not, Polarna vatra has to be disbanded."

During the ghost's explanations, Aurora had already given this topic some thought. However, her decision was ultimately made quickly. In the end, she no longer had any reason not to trust Marshadow. Besides, it would be her only option to keep the team going.

"If you still stand by your request, Marshadow, then sure! Aurorus, you can add him to the team."

Tyrantrum didn't seem pleased, but he knew that he had no say in the matter.

"Fine by me, I guess. So, Marshadow, you're now part of Team Polarna vatra. We'll then schedule a league fight for Thursday in three weeks. Aurora, if your condition is still too bad then, let us know in advance and we'll postpone it again. Is everything sorted out then? Then leave!"

Just as Aurora stood up and was about to leave the room, Aurorus rose too.

"Wait. I'll accompany you. In your current condition, I'd rather make sure that you reach your home safely, Aurora."

Although she was a little surprised, she accepted the offer, which again didn't seem to please Tyrantrum.

"Your own fault...", he grumbled.

And so Team Polarna vatra returned from their biggest journey yet. With new forms, a new line-up and a new goal.