Chapter 22: Shared Powers!
It was all over! The stadium was already emptying quickly, only a few Pokemon remained. Among them were Team Slash, Nordika and Polarna vatra. The celebrations had ended. Team Slash were the winners in a battle for nothing but glory.

"I really thought we had you after we won the second round. You really have to teach us more!", Aurora exclaimed, estatic even after her loss.
"We're always ready to train, you know that.", Zeraora answered.
"Maybe you'll figure out how to take me down then!", Tyrantrum added.

All the happy conversations were fine and well... Epsilon had now received the emblem for her team, however, and Kel also joined them again, now wearing the three pieces of armor that his team already had. This place would soon be different, the mood would change, Epsilon knew that. But the time had come.

"Well then... the tournament is over. And a deal is a deal. Aurora, Kel, you only need one more piece of the armor? Then you shall have it! As long as you remember our deal."
"Well, we do remember. But you just said that we owe you a favor. If you ever think of something, you can just come to us, you know where we'll be!", Kel answered.

The Zoroark stepped forward meaningfully, away from her own team, closer to her daughter and Kel.

"No, I already have something in minnd. You'll get the armor if you accept."
"Well, we already promised you that we would, did we not?", Aurora claimed.
"Good. In that case... One last time. Let me join you!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zeraora intervened indignantly from the background.

"Excuse me? Epsilon, you're on Team Slash! We just won the title! You can't switch teams now!"

Epsilon immediately drew her blade, showing that it was ready for battle.

"I don't give a fuck about this league, Zeraora! I'm not interested in any Slash-Polarna vatra nonsense! Aurora, Kel, did you think you could fool me forever?"
"What do you..."
"Stop lying! When I met the Emperor in your home my world collapsed in front of me! I had been looking for his identity for so long and all the clues left no more questions! Elementareon's loyalty, Aurorus' "attack", Polar's "betrayal"... Aurora, I knew it was you beneath the mask when I fought the emperor at the grave! But then you were in the presence of the Emperor two days later? The puzzle was complete but the result was wrong?"

"You caught me off guard, but I finally understand! There is no "Plot Emperor", am I right? All of Polarna vatra has great alibis that they could give to each other, none of you could be the one wearing the mask it seems! But Zeraora told me something clever earlier! Most Pokemon think a position of great power cannot be shared. And I realized... you are different! Am I not correct? Three Pokemon, one Emperor! Aurora and Polar, you two were the terror of the region for many long years, disguising as one single Plot Emperor, always one of you with armor and thus the other with an alibi for the first! And then I, the oh so naive Zoroark, sent you Kel. A Pokemon shaped by negative emotions, with a strong sense of justice. The perfect third emperor!"

I've asked you again and again! And I will do so one final time today! Let me join your side and you get the armor! Refuse me again and I will destroy this piece!"
"What are you talking about, Epsilon? Do you think..."

Kel had already started his indignant monologue when Aurora decided to interrupt him.

"No, Kel, that's enough. No need to hide a truth that has been revealed any longer. We no longer need to keep up our facade. Call Polar, we have to discuss!"

Then the Ninetales turned to Epsilon, her expression more serious, more gloomy than ever before.

"We'll consult as soon as Polar is here. Then we will decide whether to accept the offer or not!"

"And before that, maybe someone wants to fill us in? What the hell are you talking about? What's all this about?!"

The electric Pokemon cautiously tried to approach, his team partner Tyrantrum following, both ready for a fight if needed. Epsilon was already raising her blade, but there was no need to intervene. Instead, a new creature shot down from the sky onto the lawn, between the two fighting parties. Red cape, blue armor, a blade. The Plot Emperor. Or... well, one of the three Plot Emperors.

"Stay out of this! This is none of Team Slash's business! No Nordika! Not even a Polarna vatra! This is our business! Just Aurora, Kel, Epsilon and me!"
"Polar! You were in a hurry today! So, do you already have an opinion on Epsilon's offer?", Kel asked without hesitation.
"We're not going to discuss this while shouting across the lawn. Come over here. Epsilon, we will tell you our decision as soon as it is made.", Aurora interrupted.

Another bang sounded as the emperor's armor had already moved to its team partners. The three emperors had moved a little to the edge, while Epsilon stood in the middle of the stadium, Zeraora and Tyrantrum nervous at a distance. And behind them the source of the last bang.

"Team Slash! Zeraora, Tyrantrum! Leave! I will take over from here!"
"But..."
"No! Leave!"

At the sight of the shadow warrior with his two red long swords, Zeraora visibly lost the will to discuss. Instead, he gave in and carefully crept away at the edge of the arena, Tyrantrum quickly following. Epsilon looked silently at Darkrai as he struck a blade into the ground, which caused red energy to shoot out of the ground like fountains and sealed himself in with the Zoroark in a soon-to-be arena.

"So if you see the chance, the armor in your possession, the emperors in front of you, then you are finally ready to reveal your ugly face? Dare to repeat your lies once more, wicked one! Did the Plot Emperor just lie to me? Would you never join forces with him? Did you not kill her?"

The shadow's eyes glowed as blood red as his blades. This sight was meant to instill fear, the Zoroark knew this, but it also failed to cause more than a slight feeling of discomfort. Her plan had come to an end and the only thing that could stand in her way was the emperors' "no". There was no reason to lie anymore.

"Of course I lied. Lying in the desire for a better future. An attitude that is not foreign to many Pokemon in your life. Because sometimes honesty brings true mistrust. The path to peace has been paved, only the emperors still have to decide whether they want to walk it. I don't have to hide anything anymore."
"So you're not denying it anymore! You killed her! In cold blood, without morals or emotion! An honorable warrior, solely searching for peace, which led her to dark lies!"
"Oh, is that how you think about Elementareon? Misguided lies but a Pokemon of the purest intention? You realize that she and I act the same, do you? And in the end, her lies collided with mine and turned unwitting friends into mortal enemies."

"You DARE? You dare to compare yourself to her? You! Whoever you are! Whatever you did to Zoroark! There's blood on your claws, innocent, pure blood, and you dare to equate these actions with a white lie from the purest of hearts? Have you lost all connection to what is and what was? Epsilon, I was just waiting. Waiting until a single piece of evidence appeared! And your own word, your confession, has arrived! And that brings us to the point. It was always my destiny to fix the wrongs of this world! And whatever happened when you arrived, it was so much more than just a mistake! You are a mistake! A monster! Somebody who had to go through hell to learn nothing of it! Zoroark! Fight! Fight for your life! If you dare to!"

A fight is what he wanted? Well, Epsilon could hardly claim that she hadn't expected something like this. Even if it bothered her a little that Aurora, Kel and Polar didn't seem to be interested in intervening, even though negotiations were underway. But on the other hand, they would probably be happy if they didn't have to accept a deal for this armor. If they really believed there was a chance. Epsilon, on the other hand, knew she was stronger. A shadow warrior, lonely and alone, who had even submitted to her in another world? Zeraora's talk of the "strongest warrior" was at best outdated by Kel and at worst had always been a lie. And she had just defeated that very Arcanine. Aurora in the Plot Emperor's armor fell to her as well! So what could a Darkrai do?

The fight began immediately when Epsilon drew her blade from the shadows. There was clearly going to be a sword fight here, and the former empress knew how to hold her own in it. But as soon as she had drawn her weapon, she had lost sight of the enemy. She jumped forward out of pure reaction, knowing that a surprise attack would follow from behind. However, she realized how stupid she must have looked when she had jumped away from absolutely nothing. Her enemy had not moved behind her, but was floating high in the air, near the ceiling of his specially created dome.

He held one of his long swords up to the sky as red energy seemed to be accumulating. To stop this, Epsilon shot a Shadow Ball, which however... seemed to simply faze through the enemy. Energy now surrounded one of Darkrai's blades, which immediately touched the other and transferred that energy. Before the Zoroark could react, the shadow fell like a meteor, his weapons aimed downwards so that they hit the ground directly. The impact created an explosion, created by the energy that filled the entire dome and also pushed Epsilon into the wall.

As she regained her footing, Darkrai only looked up slightly. His whole body now seemed to be filled with that red energy, while every rage seemed to have turned into indifference. This did not end the fight, however, but merely showed that Nordika's leader would not let his emotions cloud his thoughts. And at the same time, it showed enormous confidence.

Epsilon tried not to be intimidated by this as she now went on the offensive herself, charging at the enemy with her blade. However, Darkrai's eyes just flashed red as all the speed of the attack seemed to be nullified. It felt as if the world around Epsilon, including herself, had lost speed. Everything in the world, apart from Darkrai. Despite this advantage, however, he still decided to simply block Epsilon's blade with one of his two own, which was much easier for him than Epsilon had thought and hoped. The massive blades seemed to feel like mere daggers to their warrior, daggers whose weight and dimensions were irrelevant when using them.

He had barely blocked Epsilon's blow when the blade that had stopped the former empress's struck Zoroark's sword with all its might. And it shattered like glass! Time seemed to return to normal afterwards, but Epsilon's weapon was gone! Well... not for long, though. Because the rainbow-colored clouds that were still gliding through the sword used their release to immediately rebuild their prison within in the blade. Darkrai watched the event with a confused, but somehow knowing look. A look during which Epsilon's claws were supposed to score a hit, to which the shadow simply reacted and blocked.

Zoroark found her own blade in her hands again, but that was not enough. She truly did not know how she was going to win! What was this Darkrai? And on top of that, she fought almost one-handed, still carrying the Plot Armor... a problem that was quickly solved when Darkrai's next sword blows followed, after which Epsilon fell to the ground. And with it the armor fell out of her hand.

As soon as this emblem came into contact with the dome, the entire arena Darkrai had created shattered! And made way for Kel to take the armor. As soon as the lion touched the golden piece, the world lit up, even Darkrai seemed startled for a moment. When the light faded, where a metal-clad Arcani had just been stood a proud, golden lion that seemed to be bursting with power, which Aurora watched in admiration. And Epsilon... was still in the duel against Darkrai and had now lost her leverage against the emperors. She had lost everything!