Upon finally regaining consciousness and opening his eyes, Trevor was immediately jerked awake from a stinging pain centered around his right chest. The Meowth winced while shielding his eyes from the surrounding light. As Trevor struggled to adjust his eyesight to accommodate for the sudden shift in brightness upon awaking from his sleep, he silently began to wonder whether he had died and passed on to the afterlife.
"Treph?!"
The sound of Aiden's voice caused Trevor to recoil in surprise upon managing to slowly regained his sight. It didn't take long for the Meowth to recognize the giant straw bed which he had rested on following the fiasco at the entrance exam from months ago. He attempted to sit up, yet found that doing so would cause a sensation akin to several needles simultaneously piercing his body. With a pained grunt, Trevor snapped his head downwards to find his chest and torso wrapped in a thick, white cast.
"Hey... can you hear me?" Aiden's disembodied voice continued to ask. "How are you feeling?!"
Trevor abruptly turned his head to find Aiden standing next to his bed, a worried look stretched across her weary face.
"I've... been better," Trevor grunted, "But I'm feeling alright."
Aiden released a sigh of relief. "Thank Arceus you're okay. If you didn't make it, I... I..."
Aiden trailed off, her eyes shimmering with barely-suppressed tears. In the midst of her sudden silence, Trevor gasped upon noticing a bloodstained set of bandages wrapped around her shoulder as well as the thick cast which concealed her right leg.
"Aiden, your-"
The Scorbunny gave a somber chuckle. "Don't look at me. Compared to what you've been through, I got off easy. I should be the one in that body cast. I..." She gave a loud sniffle as she allowed finally allowed her pent-up tears to roll down her face. "I'm sorry. I'm so... so sorry," she whispered weakly.
Trevor's eyes widened in surprise. "Aiden..."
"I'm sorry for everything!" Aiden continued passionately, "I ignored your warnings, and dragged you into a fight we obviously couldn't win! You told me over and over to not engage, yet I just didn't listen! You nearly died because of me and my stupid stubbornness! All cause I prioritized the mission over the life of my teammate! Stupid, stupid!"
Aiden heaved a deep sigh while. "Y'know, it's funny. We were in this same situation before. We both talked in this same room, with me apologizing for the same thing. Yet I never learned, did I? I just waltzed into danger yet again, dragging you along on some stupid glory-seeking adventure and putting your life at risk, all cause of my stupid ego!" She shook her head sadly. "I really am like Alpha, aren't I?! Chasing after some stupid dream for glory without considering anyone but myself."
Trevor glanced towards Aiden worriedly, desperately attempting in vain to think of some way to comfort her. "You're not like Alpha." he began insisting. "You're-"
"No." Aiden suddenly interrupted, "I don't want any excuses for the way I've been acting. This whole incident has shown me what I've been all this time... a complete idiot with a head filled to burst with pride." Rummaging through the satchel laying next to her, the Scorbunny took out the silver badge which symbolized her status as an explorer and chucked it across the room in frustration. She shook her head, wiped her tears, then reclined onto the edge of the straw bed with a weak smile. "But I know I'll be fine," she stated while looking into Trevor's eyes, "I know I can change, cause I have someone smart and cautious like you to make up for what I lack. I'm through with just... focusing on myself and what I think is best. We're a team, and it's about I start listening to the advice of my own teammate. I need you as much as you need me." Aiden's expression grew serious as she recalled the desperation with which Trevor told her to leave him. "So don't ever say that you aren't worth it ever again, you hear me?! Teammates should look out for each other, no matter what!"
YOU ARE READING
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rising Spirits
Adventure"All things... must eventually come to pass..." Trevor, a timid human turned Meowth, has been thrust into an unfamiliar world of talking Pokémon who view his kind as inexplicably tied to the looming, unseen threat which threatens their world. With n...
