Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Eye of the Storm (Team Voler)

Chapter II

"I don't know if you've heard about this new Team Voler, but they may be where you want to take this problem."

Iris's ears perked up as she turned her attention to the table next to her. The recently rebuilt bar was abuzz with activity; a perfect place to catch up with local rumours, to learn of new treasures and dungeons, to find clients and make money... Unethically.

This was one of the rare occasions where she had arrived at the bar alone. Normally she would be accompanied by Dash or Sage. Today, though, Dash wasn't well and Sage had gone out and was nowhere to be seen, so she just sat quietly, alone.

Until she heard her team's name mentioned. She was astonished, frankly; was Voler really known enough to be talked about among complete strangers to them? The Braixen realised she was shuddering with excitement. Could this be their big break?

After finishing her ale she decided to wait outside for the Salandit. It didn't keep her waiting long- no more than five minutes later the Pokémon emerged, alone. She- Iris could now see from the pattern on the Salandit's chest that it was female- noticed the Braixen and turned to her.

"Who are you?" The words came out of the Salandit's mouth in the form of a hiss.

"Heard someone indoors mention our name. Had to check what it was about."

"Ah." Her face lit up. "So you're with Voler. My name is Azalea."

"What do you want?" asked Iris.

"Something very precious to me was stolen." Azalea responded darkly. Her hands seemed to be clutching at her throat, grasping for something that wasn't there. "My orb necklace! That damned Sableye took it while I slept last night!" The rage had become apparent in her voice.

Iris seemed confused. "Why come to us about this? Why not just go to a rescue team? I'm sure they'd be happy enough to take you up on this."

"I hope to deal with the thief myself," she seethed. "For revenge. I will pay you this provided my necklace is retrieved and I am allowed to do as I please with the thief after he is captured." Azalea took an item out of her bag, which Iris recognised.

Her eyes seemed to glimmer. A Water Looplet?! That was more valuable than she'd ever dreamt of owning before meeting Dash! But at the same time, she knew just how violently Sage would be opposed to this Pokémon's scheme. He would never lay a claw on another Pokémon in self-defence, let alone go out on a mission with such malicious intent.

Despite the turmoil of emotions within her, her composure remained calm and neutral. "I'll bring my team here with me tomorrow. Then we can discuss matters with them as well." With that, Iris was gone.

A dark figure on all fours, silhouetted against the stars, gazed out to sea. A wondrous expression filled the Pokémon's face as Iris struggled to make out its identity.

"Sage?" she eventually called out, managing to discern her teammate.

"You ever regret not leaving? Before the storms locked us in?" Sage didn't turn, but continued staring out onto the horizon. Iris joined him, watching distant lightning crackle in the sky. "Makes no difference to me. I can make money just as well here as I could out there. And I had no plans on leaving anyway." she eventually responded.

"But just think. We're confined to two tiny islands. The whole world is out there. Think of all the things we could discover."

"Well, like it or not, the Storm Continent is all we have. Might as well work with it instead of dreaming of the impossible." Iris looked on as yet another bolt of lightning split the sky, so far away. The thunder came a few seconds later, shattering the silence that had befallen the duo.