Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rising Spirits

Chapter 13, Part 2 - Disorder

The borders of the long-sought Barren Continent were marked by a vast expanse of rocky, uneven terrain alongside droves of black, leafless trees with branches which violently jutted out in all directions. The air was permeated by a slight fog which only added to the ominous gloom of the overcast clouds which blocked any trace of sunlight. Not a single sign of life could be seen within this place's dull and dreary borders as Trevor tentatively descended Lily and Seras' ship alongside the rest of his company; the Meowth couldn't help but shudder slightly upon first landing his feet onto the continent's hard unwelcoming surface, which was as cold as death itself.

Trevor's attention then swiftly shifted towards the other Pokémon who now dared to enter the continent's treacherous soil, most of whom immediately faltered under the powerful effects of Dialga's worsening condition. Aiden, Greydon, Alpha, and Charlotte, entirely unused to the nauseating and strength-sapping effect of the Mythical's pressure, all let out a torrent of labored, harsh breathing while visibly struggling to remain upright. His face creased with worry, the Meowth instantly reached into his satchel and pulled out a small bundle of restorative berries for his allies to consume.

"What am I, a child?" Alpha growled while staring angrily towards the Sitrus Berry which Trevor offered towards him, "I don't need-"

The Gabite instantly paused his protestations upon catching a glimpse of Trevor's stern, apprehensive glare. With a resigned sigh, Alpha joined his teammates in accepting Trevor's thoughtful donation. Jett, meanwhile, remained adamant in her refusal to accept the berry which Trevor had tentatively left beside her feet by acting as if she couldn't see it at all.

Upon setting foot upon the Barren Continent's cold surface and growing somewhat acclimated to the corresponding sense of nausea, Madeline sat on the border while staring longingly towards the direction where she had come, her eyes stained with bitter, searing tears. Right beside the grieving Charizard swam Lily, whose heart ached from guilt at seeing the Charizard's visible anguish.

"I'm... so sorry for not stopping back there," Lily apologized ashamedly, "It's just that... well..."

"Baron told you to keep going, didn't he?" Locke suddenly interrupted with an understanding smile, "You've nothing to be sorry about. Baron understood that to prioritize his life would mean jeopardizing the lives of everyone else. In his final moments, he placed the lives of his allies over his own."

"He did, didn't he?" Madeline murmured softly while forcibly wiping her tears from her sniffling snout, "Keep your head up- it must have taken a lot of courage to keep trucking on despite everything. I should be the one apologizing for making you think that you had to be the one to apologize."

Both Lily and Madeline exchanged a brief, somber smile before the latter continued speaking with a gentle, soothing tone. "Baron won't have died in vain. We'll be sure to save the world, no matter what."

It was only after both Madeline and Locke left to join her fellow Legends when Team Spirit approached the two Ride Pokémon who remained stationed at the continent's edge.

"Are you... two going to be okay while we're gone?" Aiden asked exhaustively while slumped onto Trevor's shoulders, "Those Sharpedo may still be around, there's no telling what could happen."

Seras quick to respond. "We may be Ride Pokémon, but we're not so bad in a fight. Though, I'm not sure if we're the ones you should be worrying about at the moment. I think we should be the ones worrying about you."

The Floatzel's piercing, concerned stare prompted the members of Team Spirit to glance nervously towards one another, the trio suddenly overcome by a sense of omnipresent dread.

"Well, I'm not worried!" Lily abruptly interjected, "Not when I've witnessed you three manage the impossible time and time again! Don't let something like this faze you when you've managed to come this far! Just keep a hold of everything that has led you up to this point, and you'll be fine!"