Chapter 44: Too Many Coincidences!
"So... we really did win."
Aurora had meanwhile returned to the room where her team had been staying while this duel lasted. Somehow she still found it difficult to grasp the true extent of what had just happened.
"Yes, you did. Even if this fight raises too many questions."
As much as the team wanted to celebrate their victory, the truth in Kel's words remained. Of three battles that had taken place, two were anything but predictable. Something bigger had happened in this ring, bigger than the team realized. A knock interrupted their thoughts, however. At first Kel wanted to get up and go to the door, but an angry look from Aurora stopped him while Tyrantrum took over the task. Elementareon stood in front of the entrance, obviously wanting to visit her friends.
"Aurora, Kel, Marshadow, Tyrantrum, congratulations! You actually made it! Even... if it wasn't the duel I was hoping for. In many ways. Kel, you're more or less fine, aren't you?"
A short nod was the only answer.
"Well... if you say so. Well then, in a few days your big season in the King's League begins! And I've said it jokingly before, but you're proving more and more, so this time for real! Give it your all! I want to meet you in the Champion's Duel next season!"
In any other situation, Aurora would have been more euphoric, but at that moment she was too distracted and simply answered with a nod.
"But Elementareon... what are you going to do about Team Slash?"
It seemed as if the league leader would have liked to avoid this question, but she also knew that she couldn't just not answer now.
"First I'll talk to them. There's not much else left. But I'll make sure that someone always keeps an eye on Zeraora, I promise."
Marshadow, neutral as always, also addressed his concerns.
"Obviously Zoroark has some secrets too."
In this case, however, both members of the Epsilon Committee seemed certain.
"That's true, but Zoroark is still trustworthy. Her secret will not concern Epsilon, at least not as her comrade, I'm sure of that. But Zeraora... maybe Zoroark knows that he is Epsilon and doesn't want anyone to harm him. It would suit her... but whatever the case, Zeraora himself is more important right now."
"I agree with Aurora. So... I'll go back then. The four of you should recover, especially you, Kel. We'll talk again tomorrow, okay?"
With these words, the quartet was left to themselves again.
"So... we should go home for today. Kel, can you walk again?"
To the great annoyance of the person addressed, his co-leader didn't even give him time to answer Tyrantrum's question.
"He would say that he can, but he has to take it easy today. We have to find another way!"
The fossil replied with a hint of malicious glee.
"There is exactly one simple way in my eyes?"
"And that would be?"
Around a quarter of an hour later, the team was on their way back to Kira Town and Kel deeply regretted having even asked. Although he had to admit that he was unsure whether he could really handle an hour-long journey and that this method was probably the most pleasant for his health, it was not helpful for his honor to be carried on Tyrantrum's shoulders like a wet scarf. The mood in the team had improved considerably by now and, even though he didn't find it particularly funny, Kel was also quite happy for his standards, while Marshadow was teasing him a little.
"What's the view like up there? Can you see Kira Town yet, Kel?"
"If you don't shut up right away, I'll make sure you see the radishes grow from below!"
"I'm a ghost already, you might be late for that."
Kel paused briefly. It was clear that ghosts were undead in the myths of his world, but he had assumed that in this world they were just normal creatures, just like all other Pokemon.
"Ghosts are... strange. Most of them are reincarnations of the souls of the dead, but that doesn't really make a difference, since ghosts don't remember their first lifes. Except for a few exceptions that prove that my statements are a fact at all.", Marshadow answered immediately.
So was reincarnation a real phenomenon in this world? As much as Kel was surprised, he could only marvel at how strange this world was. He remembered his old home. A world that might even have looked similar from the outside, but with the difference that it was moldy deep down inside. The world of Pokemon, however, was a beautiful place, he had to admit, no matter how many problems it had.
After Polarna Vatra returned to Kira Town, the team members parted ways for the rest of the day. Tyrantrum returned to the tower, where he still lived on floor 49, even though he was now just a fighter, and Marshadow left for Polar Lake. Kel himself stayed behind with Aurora, as he usually did. And soon this great day came to an end and the next one began. And this day was to begin with an urgent breaking news story. The sun had just risen above the horizon when Kel was roused from his sleep by a loud knock on the front door. He stood up, exhausted, forgetting his injuries from the day before for a second. But he feel any pain that he couldn't ignore when he walked to the door and was reminded of them, so he just kept going. Although the Sleep Seeds could still help him fall sleep, he felt more tired every morning...
When the Arcanine descended the stairs, Aurora had already reached the door and opened it. A familiar but unexpected face was standing there. Latias, Elementareon's teammate.
"Aurora, Kel, Elementareon wants you to come to her office as soon as possible. Marshadow and Tyrantrum have also been informed. To be honest, I have no idea what this is about, but you better not keep her waiting."
A quick look from Aurora, who, even if she wasn't exactly happy about it, had to accept that Kel was able to walk those few hundred meters on his own again.
"Well, she's right. Let's get going!"
It didn't take long before the two team partners were standing in front of the all too familiar wooden door that had always closed in the league's office.
"Elementareon? We're here!"
The door opened immediately and Team Nordika's leader showed her face, obviously in a very bad mood.
"Come then!"
A few Pokemon were already gathered inside the room. Marshadow, Tyrantrum, the entirety of the remaining Team Nordika, and... Zeraora. While the team waited nervously, Elementareon trotted through the room, obviously furious. The rest of Elementareon's team looked questioning, Zeraora dejected. After about thirty seconds, the new leader finally decided to speak up.
"So, Team Polarna vatra. Do you know why I called you together today? Stupid question, of course you don't! Do you remember how I told you about my anti-Epsilon measures at the beginning of my leadership? How I wanted to check the key cards of every single Pokemon in the league?"
Of course the team remembered. However, none of them had expected that Epsilon would fall for such a cheap trick.
"And... did you find anything?", Aurora asked cautiously.
Elementareon practically hissed at her answer.
"No, and I'm not going to continue looking! Because our dear friend Zeraora came to my office early this morning because he unfortunately lost his key card and needs a new one!"
"I told you, it's a coincidence! I swear!"
"A coincidence? Just like Darkrai, who pretended to be YOUR friend? Or like all the times Zoroark happened to be alone during Epsilon's performances? Or like that time when Epsilon met Aurora and Kel at the iceberg before they evolved, and only a few people even knew that they would come?"
The defendant continued to insist on his statement.
"That last one was Aurorus! And the rest is a coincidence! Or maybe even framing!"
Even though Elementareon's rage worried Aurora a little, she couldn't hide the fact that she agreed with every word she said.
"Oh, is it? I'm getting fed up with all these coincidences, buddy! You've been the main suspect of being Epsilon for weeks and then all these things are happening. That's all really very interesting, don't you think?"
What probably surprised everyone present was that Team Slash's leader suddenly showed understanding.
"I know, damn it! I know how damn unbelievable it sounds! And I also know that you won't believe me! But I swear on everything, I have nothing to do with Epsilon! Tell me anything I can do to prove myself, I'll do it!"
The main protagonist of this debate also seemed to calm down at least a little.
"At least you understand why we can't trust you. That's a first step. If you really want to regain our trust, then listen to me carefully! You will no longer leave your house without supervision of a trusted Mon! No exceptions! I also want you to be available whenever I call you! And you may only take part in the league when I have time to supervise the fights myself! The same applies to you, Team Polarna vatra, as I just said."
For a split second, Aurora was confused. Why would they get punished? But Elementara quickly noticed that her wording was very off.
"I mean that you are also available if they call. You can also keep an eye on the guy!"
There was silence for a moment, which was broken by Zeraora himself.
"So... are we done here then?"
A short, warning look from Elementara followed, but she ultimately agreed.
"Yes. Latios, you take the first watch. Latias, Tepig, Totodile, please be ready, you will take the next watches in that order. Change every three hours. I'll take the fifth shift myself and we don't need any more than that, since we'll all need some sleep and Zoroark is living with Zeraora. You'll hear from me."
Team Polarna vatra also quickly took note of this invitation, aware that Elementareon was not exactly in the mood for a friendly talk at the moment. The four Pokemon had barely left the office when Marshadow started talking.
"So you were right from the start. Now we just have to wait. Zeraora will have to reveal himself soon."
Tyrantrum seemed to want to contradict him, but didn't really dare.
"It... really all points to that. But that Zeraora could really do something like that... I thought I knew him well after all this time. But after Aurorus, I guess that's not an argument either..."
After Tyrantrum had been an enemy of him for so long, it felt strange for Kel to actually feel sorry for the fossil. Times had changed, once again. As the team headed for one of the floors to train for the big season, Aurora briefly thought she saw a shadow in the corner of her eye, following the team. When she turned around abruptly in her paranoia, she actually spotted a Pokemon... a very familiar one. Zoroark.
"Aurora. I need to talk to you. Please!"
Unnoticed, the Ninetales isolated herself from her team and went to what was probably the most affected Pokemon in the entire Zeraora situation.
"What is it, Zoroark? I'm in a bit of a hurry."
"Yes... just... fine, I'll make it quick and painless. You have to put in a good word for Zeraora, please!"
For a moment, Aurora found it difficult to find an answer that somehow summarized her thoughts.
"Zoroark, as much as I don't like it myself, I can't do that under any circumstances! The case is too clear-cut for that! Zeraora must be Epsilon, even if you don't want it to be true!" The Ghost-type's gaze seemed to be covered in mist.
"I... Aurora, listen to me. After what happened in the duel yesterday... you said there that things are different in the ring. So, do you trust me, even if things happened that way back there?"
"Well... I'm definitely willing to give you a chance, even though it raised a lot of questions."
The Pokemon with the bandaged arm took a short breath.
"Very well, Aurora. Meet me at the Polar Lake at sunset. Alone. From Epsilon Committee to Epsilon Committee. Because... I can prove that Zeraora is innocent! I promise!"