Chapter 60: A Past Life
The sun was slowly disappearing behind the horizon, their strength had already waned, and yet there was no time to waste. The duo that Kel, or rather the author, had asked for, left Crowning immediately, heading straight north. Past the iceberg and a few days' journey further, that's where the encounter was to take place. And perhaps the remaining questions would finally be answered. As much as the body of the leader of Team Polarna vatra was yearning for rest, a few kilometers could still be covered before night fell.

All this determination also applied to Marshadow, although even he was showing signs of exhaustion, something he had never done before. But at least, the two siblings knew, the next few days would be more restful. Until they reached this "Mind of the World", there would be nothing but pure walking, which was certainly a relief between fights for life and death. And the time on this journey was urgently needed. There was so much Aurora needed to discuss with her team partner after today's revelations. And yet, there really wasn't enough energy left that day for a conversation of this magnitude.

And relatively quickly, when the sun had just left the duo's field of vision, they too decided to finally rest. At least physically. Marshadow immediately searched his bag, in which he had packed almost nothing that morning, enough for a day in the arena. They had to take care of food. But before he could even bring up the subject, Aurora had already fallen asleep, almost as soon as she lay down. Accordingly, the ghost decided to take a quick look in her bag, without much hope of finding anything. He was all the more surprised to find a whole supply of food and water, almost as if Aurora had planned such a trip from the start, which Marshadow dared to doubt. Had she perhaps hoped that the team would win the Plot Armor and immediately go in search of Epsilon?

It was all just speculation, but for an exact answer he would have to wait until morning, when Aurora would wake up again. Ultimately, it wasn't important. What mattered was that the journey was prepared and nothing stood in the way of the end. Even though Marshadow also wondered... what was waiting for them?

The next morning soon dawned. However, neither Aurora nor Marshadow noticed this, as both slept through until noon. However, since Kel hadn't given them a time limit, it wouldn't be too bad.

"So... let's go and look for a source of food, right?"

This question already confirmed what the former Polar had already thought. Aurora herself had no idea about her own supplies.

"Look in your bag."

Surprised, the Plot Warrior followed the instructions and was surprised by the same picture that Marshadow had already seen the night before.

"Did you pack all that? But how..."
"No, that wasn't me. I just noticed it last night. Presumably... the author doesn't want any major delays. This must be his work."

Aurora hesitated briefly, but ultimately accepted the answer.

"Well, no matter what it is, ultimately it only helps us. So there is no reason to complain."

The journey continued, towards the iceberg on which Aurora had evolved. And where she had first faced Epsilon. And where they had found the second part of the Plot Armor. And the place where Marshadow...

"It was there..."

Confused, Aurora reacted to this context-free statement.

"What was there? What are you talking about?"
"You wanted to talk to me about the past, didn't you? At the iceberg. When we fought Darkrai there. Or rather, shortly afterwards. When I got the Plot Armor and saw you and Kel just sitting there. That was the moment when I became sure who I was in my last life."
"That... was quite a while ago. And you really wanted to tell me?"

Marshadow answered, almost insulted.

"Of course. There would be no reason for me to keep it a secret forever. However... you hadn't reacted particularly openly to the revelation of your first death... I didn't want you to not believe me and for everything to fall apart."
"But that also means that Epsilon kept it a secret from you when you were still one of her fighters, right?"

A short nod followed.

"I had no idea that she suspected anything even after I knew myself. But... well, I guess it makes sense that she would keep that a secret."

Aurora also agreed.

"She in particular... you know, this morning I thought I had lost all the family I ever had. And then all of a sudden... at the side of my reborn brother I fought against my mother? I haven't doubted the Plot so much in a long time..."

Marshadow turned to his sister confusedly.

"Why would you doubt in a moment like this? Isn't it a kind of miracle that we all met again?"
"It seems more like a sick joke! Epsilon herself said that the whole thing was a kind of game for the author. And then when I saw you and her... it seemed so logical. How could the three of us, Epsilon, you and I, all be in the centre of this war, be some of the fewest? There are tens of thousands of Pokemon on Berelo and then there's us! All three of us were there. It's like a bad family drama, put on by a director for a movie. Or... well. An author. For the Plot."

For the first time, Marshadow also considered whether there might be some truth in these words. In this life he had never moved further away from the Plot than in his last. On the contrary. He believed that the Plot alone gave him a second chance to help Aurora.

"Well... regardless of whether the author specifically planned it or not... I'm glad that you finally found the Plot."

The Ninetales remembered briefly.

"Yeah. Back then... it was simply incomprehensible to me. You tried to convey the message to me, but I... ignored it. The Plot was intangible to me back then. Because I was too careless to understand that you could need support like him."

Marshadow fell silent again briefly before drawing his own conclusion.

"That's exactly how I always saw it. And since my return more so than ever before. That's why I'm determined that no matter what we find in this place, I will never give up on the Plot. Because even if this author really is as Epsilon describes him... then he is also just a being, albeit with a lot of power. The Plot always remains a supporter, even if someone with a lust for power controls it."

Aurora had nothing more to add to these words, so silence returned until Marshadow had a very obvious idea.

"Say, Aurora..., maybe we want to travel by my shadow travel? I wouldn't be able to make it all the way, but we might save ourselves a day or two if I make an effort."

To be honest, the Ninetales had already repressed this ability, but ultimately she wasn't particularly keen on the idea in this situation either.

"You know... we have no idea what to expect, do we? I think we can make good use of the peace and quiet."

Precisely because of the effort that was ultimately behind such a transport, Marshadow was not dissatisfied with this answer and accepted it. And so the journey continued. Past the iceberg, into unknown distances. The sun rose and sank many times, a feeling of pressure and worry came ever closer, an uncertainty in the distance and yet attainable. The Mind of the World was not a normal place, the duo could already feel this. And soon they would reach it.

On another evening a campfire lit up and the two siblings rested. Once again many kilometers lay behind them. And again Marshadow was after a little chat.

"Tell me, Aurora... you always dreamed of fighting in the league. Now, with Team Polarna vatra... was it actually what you imagined? After all, you have now seen the top, even participated in the Champion's Duel. You've nearly had it all!"

So much time seemed to have passed since all this had begun. Since the first meeting with Kel, the starting signal for this great journey.

"Well... to be honest, it was less work than I thought. But probably only because everything outside of league life was even more exhausting so it felt relaxing. And I was just lucky to be able to gather a lot of strong fighters. Especially Pokemon like Zeraora and Tyrantrum, who actually weren't exactly friends before. But I have to say... if I had to lead the team by myself, not together with Kel... I don't know if I would have stuck with it."

Again, Marshadow lacked some understanding. "After all, you took on every management task. How did Kel make this task so easy for you?" Aurora herself seemed to be looking for an answer for a moment. "Yes... kind of. But just knowing that he could always get involved. And also the pure representation. For example, at the beginning of the season, when Olangaar challenged us to a bet... if I had faced that guy alone, I really don't know how I would have managed it. The mentality of the whole thing... If I were alone at the head of the team, every defeat in front of spectators would feel so much worse. No matter how true that really is, every time I would feel like they all only see my failure in a defeat. The mere fact that I was able to share this burden was what made the whole journey so much easier."
Marshadow immediately recognized a deeper meaning in her words and looked at her amused.

"But it was also very much down to the choice of Pokemon by your side, wasn't it?"

Aurora herself was a little more incomprehensible.

"What do you mean?"
"Be honest with me, Aurora. You like Kel a lot, don't you? More than a friend?"

The slight red tint that his sister's face took on was answer enough for the ghost. But in fact he found out even more than he had thought.

"Well... yeah. I'm not trying to hide it. From you at least... even if I had from Kel."
"You're afraid of being rejected. That's normal."
"No. You know... Kel kinda already confessed to me. But... I didn't confess mine."

Marshadow sat up, confusion in his gaze.

"What? But... why not?"
"Out of fear... Not out of fear that he would reject me, but out of fear that I couldn't trust myself. What if I rushed into a relationship that was destined to fail? If I destroyed our friendship? Or... if something happened to him or me in this war? I... just like you planned to tell me the truth about your past after the war, I wanted to tell Kel the truth after the war. I just thought that if we didn't all see the end, it would be easier on us both. I was just afraid of the pain that could be."

Almost surprised by her own honesty, Aurora waited for a reaction. But nothing came for a while. She almost suspected that Marshadow would abstain, but he started speaking again after about a minute.

"You know... ultimately it's all your decision and not something I should interfere with. But if you want some advice from me, even if it's perhaps too late, seeing where we are now... think about it. Would you really feel better if you lost Kel without ever telling him the truth? But that's a very negative approach to these things. So let's say it differently. Tomorrow you'll tell him, alright? When we've met the author and gave the world peace once and for all! And from what I experienced with him and with you since my return... I'm sure everything would turn out fine with the two of you."

Aurora looked to her right, somewhat nostalgic. A huge mountain range stretched just a few kilometers away. In front of her lay the end. And Aurora's partner, Kel. The next day would decide it all. The future was in her paws now.