Chapter 8: Audience of the Emperor!
Night had fallen. Silence reigned over the land, while the moon gave light, which enabled the shadows to dance. Not far from Kira Town, in the middle of the vast trees of the forest, a figure moved cautiously.

"Why do I have to do this shit?! He can't send me near this shitty town after I just had to reveal myself! What if someone sees me?"

A rustling! Instinctively, and also a little paranoid, the unmasked fossil of Team Slash immediately ducked away and looked around. His master had promised him a new weapon, a kind of compensation for the forced unmasking, but had not managed to get away long enough to hide the object anywhere further from Kira Town than the forest of Polar Lake. And then he didn't even say where exactly! Apparently the Plot Emperor himself had been very optimistic, since no one would have any reason to be in the forest at such a time. But Aurorus could not share this confidence! After all, the Plot Emperor was not known as an enemy yet

Another rustling! It couldn't be the wind, and Aurorus also knew that these sounds were not the ones he himself was forced to make. In truth, the fossil was barely visible in the darkness between bushes and trees, but it felt as if he were in the middle of a spotlight. Until Aurorus found himself at the edge of the water, where the northern lights were floating, bathing the place in bright colors. This was the most likely place for a hiding place, and at the same time it felt safer. Danger would have a hard time hiding here.

So what exactly was here? There was this one tree by the lake, the base of which contained a small cave. It was anything but the most secret place, but if it was about a companion finding his reward hours after hiding, then it would be more than enough. Still alert, the fossil squeezed into the cave, the entrance to which was almost too small for him. And indeed, only a short search inside was necessary before Aurorus found a bag. So that was the "weapon"! A herb, rare and native to Kasonia. And one whose juice had great chemical benefits! He could certainly brew many new potions with it! Satisfied, the intruder squeezed himself out of the cave again... and paused. Had those just been eyes in the darkness? His eyes had to be playing tricks on him! The best thing to do was to simply get out of this forest as quickly as possible so that he could finally feel safe again!

But this was the moment when the truth of his doubts became apparent! A sword stroke missed the fossil by centimeters and as if from nowhere his own shadow, cast by the moon, rose from the ground and stood eerily opposite his real self.

"Don't worry. He's very sweet and wouldn't hurt a fly! As long as I don't give him the order to do so, anyway."

Fearfully, Amagarga turned around as a Zoroark with glowing eyes stepped out of the bushes. So he had actually been followed.

"What... what do you want from me? Do you want revenge?"
"Oh no, I don't intend to hurt you. As long as you cooperate. We both know which of us is stronger! And believe me... we are deep within the woods. Nobody would hear you scream!"
"Then... what do you want from me? Do you want information?"
"Let's say... indirectly yes. I definitely want information. However, I have serious doubts about the seriousness of your source. No, I just need a small favor from you, Aurorus..."

A dramatic pause followed.

"Go to your master! The Plot Emperor! And make sure he meets me to give me the information I need! I'll be waiting for him when it's midnight again, here at the lake!"
"But... I..."

Aurorus' shadow moved at these words, causing the original to recoil.

"Do I hear 'but'? What is it, your 'but'?"

"I'll do it, I'll do it! I'll go to him right away and tell him to come! But I don't know if I can convince him to show up. What if he doesn't want to fall into your trap?"
"Well, first of all, I don't plan on setting one. On the other hand, that's your problem. I've waited long enough for an opportunity like this, fossil, and if I still can't meet the Plot Emperor, I'll be angry! And believe me, if I'm angry, you will be the one to face my wrath! You can't hide! I'll always find you! Anywhere! You'd better convince your master, because if I don't find him by ten minutes past midnight at the latest, then safety will be a word that's gone from your vocabulary! And I won't be as nice as I was today!"

The shadow of Aurorus disappeared into nothingness with the original immediately seizing the opportunity to use the clear path to escape. That a literal rock could get to these speeds… that would do the job. Epsilon was sure that the fossil wouldn't dare go against her word. But if he did… the fossil shouldn't think the threats were just empty words!

So the night passed, a new day came and went, so that soon after the moon was high in the sky again. The clock had just struck zero, a new day had begun. And Epsilon waited on the shore of Polar Lake. Aurorus' clock was ticking. Still, the Zoroark was relaxed. If anyone showed up, it would be her gain, if not, it would be Aurorus' loss. But she was optimistic anyway. And rightly so.

"So we finally meet."
"Apparently. I see your appendage has done its job. Not that he had a choice."
"So these are the methods you are willing to resort to. I stand by those who stand by me. So what do you want? A fight? Try to defeat me? Are you going to face Plot itself? You don't know what you're trying to take on here, Epsilon."
"Oh, you'd think so. I know a lot. Almost everything! The only thing I lack is the knowledge of why you took on this power and role!"
"You have no basis for truly knowing anything about me! And you can't understand me anyway! Why are you so intent on overthrowing me? What have I done to you?"
"Ask the author what exactly he has truly offered you!"

The Plot Emperor, the armor identical to that which Epsilon himself once said, recoiled.

"You... where do you know that name from? What do you know about the author?"
"Well, I'm not sure what information your lackey has given you already. But I am like you! I was once in your place! I was a Plot Empress myself, power given by the author, seeking justice that the Pokemon never wanted! Until I found out that the author had lied to me. He never wanted me to win! I was just a tool for him, a test for the world I lived in! No, not even that, I was just a small part of a test!"

"So is it really true? And yet I don't know how else you would know the author! But these threats about the author's lie don't interest me! You don't know what I stand for! For justice! The fall of sinners! A world in true peace! Free from those who tarnish the ideals of happiness!"
"I believe there is a misunderstanding. I have no interest in threatening you and, believe me, I understand your ideas. Because they are what I wanted too. A peace free from all those who would destroy it! What I want from you is nothing more and nothing less than to work together! You and I, Plot Emperor, we are similar. Except that I already know how we could fail!"

Cooperation? That was the exact opposite of everything the Plot Emperor knew about his newest and strangest enemy! What had she done since her arrival that wasn't a fight in the league or a declaration of war against him?

"Why should I believe a word you say, stranger? You claim in every sentence that you are like me, but your greatest goal in relation to the league is my downfall! Nothing ever seems to drive you more than my end!"
"This is the behavior that bothers you about me? Aren't you just a Pokemon yourself, disguised under armor? And so I am disguised too, disguised by words and promises! I know whose trust is needed to get closer to the goal! I know who I want on my side and who should believe I am on their side! And all the research and clues seemed necessary to me to find the way to talk to you!"
"And that's why you roam through the night, on the trail of my fellow fighters, and threaten them with death if they don't act as you want?"
"It was my best option. Aurorus had contacts that I needed, but why should he obey me without any pressure? I don't like to harm innocents if it is not necessary, but I will harm innocents if it is a necessary step for peace!"

More and more words were spoken in this exchange, but still the Plot Emperor was clearly not convinced!

"Then tell me, what reason do I have to trust you? How do I know that you will not use every word against me, pass it on to the league, delight in getting closer to my secrets?"
"You want proof? Isn't it proof enough that I have kept all my knowledge of the author and the pure foundation of this world to myself, from everyone who should know? Then tell me, what else should I do?"
"Leave me alone! Me and my followers! If you have the same goal as us, then don't try to hinder us!"

"That plan has a big problem... I am not the spectator-type! I will not just sit by and do nothing! I am a fighter, an empress! And as such, I see two options in the face of another Plot Emperor! Either the two emperors fight together, or one of them must die! Think about it carefully! You don't want me to be your enemy, especially when I could be your companion instead!"
"You still speak words that all mean the same thing, but contain no reason, only threats! The only reason I should trust you is that you have kept a truth to yourself that no Pokemon that is not initiated would believe anyway! We don't need help, and you couldn't help anyway! Because at the moment there is another mission that the author has given me and my companions, apart from peace itself." "How about a deal?"

As much as the Plot Emperor distrusted hher, as annoying as she was, her determination was admirable.

"A deal? What kind of deal?"
"I will prove to you that I am on your side and remove all reasons for your doubt, and once I have done so, you will let me be part of your group!"
"I doubt that you are truly capable of that."

Now, finally, Epsilon rose from her sitting position for the first time.

"Whoever you are, underneath that mask, you are making a mistake. A big mistake that a whole world made once, leading to it's doom! You underestimate me! And you underestimate what I am willing to do! My dream of a just world is closer than ever, through the knowledge of how we would fail and the existence of a second emperor with the power of the author! Together we would be unstoppable!" "We already are without you!"
"Fine! I will prove that you need e then!"

Epsilon started walking off yet stopped herself.

"And one thing before I go... no matter what you plan to do in the time until I convince you... NEVER make the mistake of breaking Polarna vatra! Break the will of the Growlithe and you will regret every step you've taken!"

A/N: We're finally done with the beginning part of the story! And the part where there was holding back! What did you think Epsilon were to do? Become a hero? Overthrow her own ideals? Epsilon is not a reasonable Pokemon! She saw a chance at redemption! Redemption as an empress! A second chance to win her war, now knowing what not to do! It's time for Epsilon to act!