Chapter 3: Messenger of the Unknown
"A future which never happened? The fuck does that mean?", Tyrantrum was the first to react.
"Let me speak and you'll know!"

Epsilon pulled the remains of the Hero's Hourglass out of her bag, the object that had created all this chaos, all its bad and good sides. "I come from a future of this world in which things were different. I don't know what exactly happened here, so I can't list any exact differences, but what is important is that I come from a world in which I myself was the Plot Empress! A powerful fighter, equipped with the power of the Plot, a group at my side that fought with me for peace, but on the path of endless violence! I fought a war against my greatest enemy, the Plot Warrior, who herself received power from the Plot and also wanted peace, but without anyone having to die. Against her and her team I fought. Until the big day came. The day I won thanks to Aurorus, who was part of my group in that world! The Plot Warrior died!"

"Her death, however, revealed a terrible truth to me. Because one of her teammates… he had been looking for armor that would defeat me, but also voices that had begun to rage in his mind. And with the death of the Plot Warrior, the armor burst and the voices released the devil! I was never supposed to win that war, but I did, and in doing so I unleashed an invincible enemy on a world that had just lost its only hope to me!"

"It was only then that I realized my mistakes, when it was already long too late. Epoliktzus, a flame demon of destruction, broke out and destroyed everything on Berelo and took the lives of thousands upon thousands! And it was my fault… and my own only. Without my powers, as the demon took them from me, I joined forces with the survivors of the continent and after a long battle that brought back hope and my strength, which I sacrificed to bring back the Plot Warrior, Epoliktzus was able to defeat himself when the possessed Pokemon fought from within for his lost partner. I come from a newly built Kira Town. And I lived there quietly for many years, always trying to at least fix some of my mistakes. Until I came across an object. This hourglass. Its owner entrusted it to me, believing that I knew to do what was right. This hourglass... can turn everything back. Once! Undo a world! All its inhabitants, even the Plot itself, would forget everything that happened, because otherwise time itself would break. The only Pokemon that would retain its memories would be the one that broke the hourglass. Me. So for years a Zoroark lived before me with the knowledge of the other timeline, which she did not truly live. Until today! Because today she faded into the depths of this mind. Because now I am here. As a messenger of a lost future!"

Epsilon could not claim to be surprised when most of those present were anything but convinced by her story.

"I'm sorry to have to question you, Mom, but... do you have any evidence other than broken glass? The whole thing is... really hard to believe.", Epsilon's daughter asked.
"Well, my biggest proof is... Kel."

Aurora looked at her mother in confusion.

"Kel? You've already said that name a few times. But who is..."
"That's me. Kel is my name."

Aurora was not the only one to look surprisedly at the previously silent Growlithe.

"And now tell me how you know me, Zoroark! We've never met before!"
"Sure thing. Here is my proof. Kel, we know each other. We've had a past. But... not in this timeline! The big event I returned for was your arrival. I already told Zeraora that we would meet you today!"

Slowly, the distrust seemed to turn to curiosity. Epsilon really had a point. After all, how else would she know who this Growlithe was?

"So... I played a role in your story of the future? Was I part of your group? Why did I have a significance that you would remember?"

The Zoroark looked around again briefly. Should she tell the whole truth? It could be hard to take, and yet...

"You were a protagonist! You, Kel, were that Pokemon at the side of the Plot Warrior! You were that Pokemon in which Epoliktzus slumbered until I awakened him!"

Silence fell as the Growlithe's gaze changed. What exactly the Pokemon was feeling right now... was difficult to say. Uncertainty, fear, but also anger were reflected. Elementareon tried to divert the topic a little and move the meeting forward.

"Well... then... well..., Zoroark, we want to believe you that you are telling the truth. But in this case, what exactly do you want now? Why are you here, telling us about these things?"
"It's simple! I had to experience a world that suffered because of my mistakes. And now I have a chance to correct these mistakes. And to prevent someone else from doing the same! I'm here to prevent what I experienced from happening again! And I claim that I can be a great help to you in the fight against the Plot Emperor! If only I can find out enough about this world. Because that's what I want! Information! Because then I can fight against the present one as a former Plot Empress! As a Pokemon that knows all the backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, many things an emperor would not want his enemy to know!"

For the first time, Elementareon's team partner Darkrai spoke up. Epsilon noticed that this seemed to be a very similar Pokemon to the one in her Plot Elite, only that this time he wasn't one of Epsilon's fighters.

"Very well. I'd say we give Zoroark the information she wants. But first..., Kel. Tell us what you can say about yourself. Where did you come from so suddenly?"

The Growlithe hesitated for a moment, apparently not sure whether he should even answer, but he quickly realized that he would have no choice.

"Well, I... I'm Kel. As this Zoroark said. How exactly I got here... I don't know. Just that I was a human before."
"And that's it?", Zeraora questioned?
"That's all that could help you and that I want you to know!"

Epsilon gave the fire Pokemon a quick look.

"Well, I can add a few things to that. But I'd rather do that eye for an eye, after the meeting is over. You should be able to decide for yourself what you want to reveal publicly."

The Growlithe's gaze still showed a certain distrust, but the topic ended there anyway.

"So, on to an important question before we continue with Zoroark. Kel, if you've only just arrived in this world... you have no place to stay, right?"

The Growlithe just shook his head silently.

"Well... I'd like to be able to offer you a room in the tower, but we're full to the brim. And I can't just throw anyone out."

Tyrantrum and Aurorus didn't need to get involved in this topic any further. Both had their floor in the League Tower, no more, no less.

"Then he'll have to find somewhere else. I would actually offer an empty room in my house. If I had one. Unless you're planning on moving out now, Zoroark.", Zeraora added.

The one adressed declined quickly.

"Wouldn't know where to. I was living in with you back in my future too."

Aurora and Polar, on the other hand, were whispering quietly to each other so that Epsilon couldn't hear them. Polar looked up briefly before they continued whispering. It was only after a moment that the Ninetales spoke up.

"Our house is pretty much designed for two people. But if it's just a matter of a place to stay overnight, Aurora and I could definitely clear out the attic and that could work."

Kel didn't seem particularly keen on the idea, but had no alternatives. Epsilon, on the other hand, watched the events with joy. After having experienced her daughter and the Then-Arcanine before the reversal of time, she really hoped that the two could get together again during this time. And the less she had to manipulate, the better.

"Okay, then that's settled! So just one more question for you. What... exactly are you planning to do in this world now?", Elementareon continued.
"Uh... live. I guess. For now, I'm probably looking for training to get used to this form and learn some self-defense if there's some terrorist running around as you state."

Polar and Aurora looked at each other again.

"Well... we could probably help with that too. There are only two of us in our league team, we could use some reinforcements!"

Elementareon actually seemed a little unsure when she heard this.

"Do you really think so? After all, you are at the top of the Upper Leage. And Kel… well, he's not trained."

Aurora was exactly as Epsilon had always known her. Stubborn and determined.

"He doesn't have to take part in league battles right away. So, of course, this is just an offer, Kel. If you want to join Team Polarna vatra, just let us know."

This time the decision actually came surprisingly quickly for Kel's standards.

"If I'm moving in with you anyway, why not? Then at least I don't have to look for a stranger who would let me join in."
"Well then, if there's agreement. I think that's all you need for now, right, Kel?", Elementareon asked.

After a brief moment of silence, the Growlithe just nodded. He had obviously exchanged enough words. Epsilon had not.

"Good. Then I'd like to come back to my topic! Well, I've already said it: I need information about this world. Lots! In exchange, I will actively support the fight against the Plot Emperor!"
"Well, give us some hints then! What do you want to know more about?", Zeraora asked.
"Let's start with personal things. Me. Who was the Zoroark that you knew so far? And why do you call me Zoroark in the first place?"

Most of the Pokemon in the room quickly looked into a corner of the teams. Two of them could answer these questions better than anyone else: Epsilon's own children. However, it didn't seem as if Aurora really wanted to talk about what had happened. That's why Polar started off.

"Well, I'll just start with the things that I experienced myself. Aurora, you, I and our dad Hail lived together as a family in Kasonia, on an iceberg. You originally came from the Aralsian warrior tribe, but betrayed them and fled. At least that's what you always told us. We all lived there together for a few years, until I was about ten, but then..."

Now Polar also paused. Epsilon already suspected what was to follow. The day that had changed everything. The day that ultimately led her onto the path of the Plot Empress. After a brief moment of silence, it was now time for Aurora to continue the story.

"That night we were all startled by the noise from the foot of the mountain. We looked and only saw a whole group of shadowy figures in the darkness and... you were the only one who recognized them. Grimmsnarl had been looking for you to take revenge and... we fled. Except for dad. He stopped them and gave us time to escape. But... we never saw him again after that. When Grimmsnarl couldn't catch you... he thought he could take revenge on you another way..."

With these words in her head, Epsilon didn't even notice how her eyes began to glow red. So things had been different here! She must have suspected back then what could happen to Hail, so she had taken better care of him and the family. But then... as if she hadn't hated the tribal leader enough in her old homeland! This time this guy had dared to take more from her than just her mind and honor! This time her family had suffered under this monster! This was why she had returned. This was why... she could return!

"After that you brought us here to Kira Town. Polar and I founded Team Nordika and you later met Zeraora and joined his Team Slash."
"I... understand. But you left one question unanswered. Why do you call me Zoroark?"

Aurora seemed a little confused.

"Well, you always hated it when we called you Beta instead, so..."

For a moment, Epsilon thought he had misheard.

"Me? Beta? That can't be! I would never fight for this bastard of a Grimmsnarl!"
"Well, you did though. Couldn't betray his trust if you never made him trust you."

Well... at least the reasoning made sense. Her escape must have been much easier like this.

"Still! From today on, I am neither Zoroark nor Beta! Because I am Epsilon, messenger of a forgotten future!"