Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rising Spirits

Chapter 13, Part 1 - Forwards

With pursed lips and thumping hearts, Trevor, Aiden, and Luka simultaneously approached the sand-covered border of the Lush Continent's northmost port to find a myriad of Pokémon already present: the Legends, Greydon's gang, as well as packed crowd of Sunrise Town residents who awaited their departure with bated breath and hope-filled eyes. Madeline, upon being the first Pokémon to notice the trio approaching, greeted all three Pokémon with a wave and a warm smile.

"Hey, guys!" the Charizard stated cheerily in an attempt to divert their attention away from the myriad of wounds which still covered her body, "We're just about ready to depart. Baron's just holding everything up by arguing, as he's prone to do."

Madeline cast a bemused glance towards the beach's pier, next to which sat a wooden boat big enough to carry multiple Pokémon on its buoyant surface. Attached to the boat floated both Lily and Seras, both of whom were preoccupied with a sour-faced Feraligatr who sat nearby.

"You sure you two're up for this?" Baron asked concernedly towards the two ride Pokémon, "Trust me- this journey isn't meant for the faint of heart. I'm more than capable of pulling this thing myself."

"Of course!" came Lily's enthusiastic response, "You Legends ought to save your energy and leave the transportation up to us professionals!"

"You Legends ought to trust Pokémon other than yourselves for once." Seras added with a sly smile, "We would be more than happy to get you lot towards the Barren Continent if it'll potentially prevent this world from freezing over."

"You both don't understand!" Baron stubbornly insisted, "This trip is far more treacherous than anything you've ever encountered! This kind of situation is way out of your league!"

"And how do you know that?!" Lily defiantly retorted, much to the Feraligatr's utter surprise, "Remember what happened the last time you Legends tried taking on the tower without outside help?! Just sit down on that ship and let us do our job!"

Following a defeated sigh, Baron angrily stormed across a small plank and joined both Locke and Jett in boarding the ship which would momentarily take them towards the Barren Continent, the latter of which merely offering a slight shrug in a feeble attempt to lessen the Feraligatr's clear discomfort.

Averting his gaze from Baron's sullen countenance, Trevor noticed both Alpha and Charlotte speaking towards one another in private a few feet away from the pier. Unable to contain his curiosity, the Meowth inched forwards slightly so as to listen in onto their tense conversation.

"I just want to make sure..." Alpha murmured darkly while staring intently into Charlotte's ringed eyes. "...that you're absolutely set on coming along."

"I'm a member of Greydon's gang as well- of course I'm going!" the Gliscor angrily retorted, "I've already told you a million times that I'm set on leaving alongside you!"

"...Would it be right to leave our pupils all on their own, though? For all we know, that Vul guy could potentially attack this place while we're gone as a way to gain leverage over us. That could mean trouble when all three of us're absent!"

"Heh, I've already got that covered," Charlotte responded with a sly smirk, " I convinced Percival to watch em' while we're gone."

The Gliscor motioned towards Percival floating in the distance, who was in the process of happily encouraging a nervous-faced Dalton.

"It was surprisingly easy- he agreed basically instantly and went on this hour-long tirade about how our crew would be safe in his capable hands. Stupidly naive as he is, I'm sure he's capable enough to hold the fort while we're gone."

Alpha remained visibly unconvinced, his face lined with concern. "I just don't know if you should-"

"You never learn, do you Alpha?" Charlotte interrupted with a sigh, "You don't have to fight alone anymore- not when you have me and Greydon to back you up."