Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Twisted Space

9: Two Wayward Souls

Surprisingly, the bag slung over Fallen's shoulder did not weigh him down too much. Team Inferno nearly spent all of their money, keeping about one hundred fifty Poké to return to Avarice at the bank. Azure insisted they leave their leftover money in the bank rather than risk losing it in Astral Cave.

The sun rested peacefully behind the Alliance tent. Fallen found the sight to be majestic. The soft colors blended together around the intense crimson of Ho-oh's feathers. Was he supposed to be afraid or amazed?

Team Inferno returned to the base of the hill where the tent stood, accompanied by Azure. Vigil and Fallen exchanged speculation about tomorrow: what the cave would be like, what pokémon they would encounter, and how long the mission would take.

Fallen still kept his doubts about tomorrow. Sure, Azure would be guiding them, but would that be enough? To counter his persistent skepticism, he occupied himself with the item he received from Zig: a white ball that created light at the user's will. Zig called it the "Luminous Orb."

"If you continue to play with that, you will break it," Azure warned, prompting Fallen to place the orb back into the bag.

As they reached the top of the hill, Team Inferno recognized a figure in the distance. A bulbous pink pokémon stood in front of the tent, tapping its foot and occasionally glancing into the Alliance tent.

"Is that Waver?" Fallen squinted at what he believed was the jigglypuff.

"Yeah, it is!" Vigil's ears perked up, only to droop again. "Oh no! How long has he been waiting for us!?"

"Is that the friend you mentioned before?" Azure asked.

Vigil and Fallen nodded, then casually approached their friend while his back was turned.

"Waver?" Vigil called.

The jigglypuff turned around at the sound of his name. When he saw Team Inferno behind him, he jumped backwards out of shock.

"Vigil? Fallen? How'd you get behind me? I've been waiting for you to come out of the Alliance base!"

Fallen chuckled, feeling a bit guilty, "Sorry, Waver. We had to buy a few things in town for tomorrow."

"Well, glad you two had your shopping spree. Now let's get going. We have to leave now if we want to get home before nightfall."

"Uh, actually Waver," Vigil struggled to find the right words, "we...aren't going back with you."

"How come?"

"Well, we..."

"Your friends, Fallen and Vigil, have decided to join the Pokémon Alliance," Azure broke the awkward air.

"Wait, you two are members of the Alliance? When did this happen?" Waver crossed his arms, completely boggled by what he just heard.

"Yeah!" Vigil hopped joyously. "Say hello to Team Inferno!"

"Team Inferno...wow! I didn't think kids our age could even join."

Azure cleared his throat, "The Alliance does not discriminate based on age or experience. We solely judge our recruits based on their potential and morals. These two have shown remarkable undertaking worthy of being members of the Alliance."

"Hold on..." Waver examined the Lucario standing before him. "You wouldn't happen to be Azure, would you?"

"I am indeed."

"The leader of the Pokémon Alliance? Fallen, Vigil, do you guys realize how amazing this is!?" Waver's eyes twinkled with awe as he awaited their response.