Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Twisted Space

8: Follow the Leader

"Ah, fresh air!" Vigil stretched out in front of the base's entrance. "It was so stuffy in there with all those Pokémon!"

"Yes, it is quite refreshing to leave the base," Azure agreed. "I will admit, it can be a bit cramped in there, especially during rush hour."

"Rush hour?" Fallen asked as he became fixated on Amethyst City's opulence.

Azure chuckled, "Rush hour is what we call the time when the vast majority of teams are scrambling through the halls of the base in preparation for their missions. When I used to go on missions, we always preferred accepting the mission and buying supplies the night before. That way, when we awoke, we could eat and leave before dealing with the morning's traffic."

Vigil turned to Azure in surprise, "Hold on! You used to do jobs for the Alliance? I thought you founded the place?"

"My team, as it stands now, did not create the Alliance. However, we were very good friends with the pokémon who did. We were the first team registered in the Alliance upon its establishment."

"Were Laurel and Auris your teammates?" Fallen assumed.

"Yes, they were. We carried out missions to the best of our abilities. My age, however, has gotten the best of me, and thus, our team graciously accepted our role as leaders of the Alliance."

"You don't seem very old. And you walk just fine," Vigil noted.

"I am much older than I look, and much older than the typical lifespan of a Lucario. Still, I see many years in my future."

Vigil hopped around merrily, "Cool! So if you had a team, what was your name?"

"We called ourselves Team Unity," Azure stared off into the cityscape, disappearing to his memories. When he returned, he beckoned Team Inferno down the path, "Come, let us make all of the necessary preparations for tomorrow's mission. There are still parts of the base I would like to show you before dusk."

Vigil and Fallen nodded, following Azure into the teeming streets of Amethyst City.

"Before we even think about buying supplies, there is somewhere I must take you first."

Azure led the children around a series of street corners, until they approached a large tent off to the eastern outskirts of town. On the front of the tent was a sinister face with giant gemstone eyes and vicious fangs, all plastered on a ghastly indigo.

"This is the bank all members of the Alliance use. We will need to open an account for you two so that the Alliance has somewhere to transfer all of your earnings."

"They keep all of the money in a tent?" Fallen asked. "Isn't that a bit...unsafe?"

"Oh, you will see how it operates when we go inside. Shall we?"

Fallen shrugged and entered the tent with his companions. The entire tent was pitch-black, and from what the treecko could see, it was empty. Vigil, who had a knack for seeing through darkness, scanned the room and came to the same conclusion.

"Uh, Azure? Are you sure this is the right—?"

"Hello there!"

Fallen darted behind Azure, cowering behind his leg. Vigil lurched backwards, but continued to stand his ground, albeit slightly alarmed. Before them stood a purple, transparent pokémon, almost invisible in the obscuring darkness. His diamond eyes gleamed menacingly, and he bore a smile that made Fallen shudder.

"Azure! It's been quite some time! When's the last time you came out from that office of yours?"

"It has been too long, Avarice. I was long overdue for a good walk."