*I do not own Pokémon nor the cover image I selected*
Promise
Featuring: Wigglytuff & Armaldo
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky
"...and THREE! SMILES GO FOR MILES!"
"Okay, Pokémon~!" Chatot perked. "Get to work!"
"HURRAY!" Everyone cheered, and then dispersed to their usual daily jobs.
"Hey, Vulpix!" Riolu spoke up then. "I got a rescue job for Waterfall Cave, want to do it?" He asked.
The Vulpix nodded eagerly.
"Alright! Let's go!" Riolu said, leading the way up outside.
When arriving, as they walked down towards the intersection, a large Pokémon walked past them. He was mostly blue, with big claws and a large shell armor. "Excuse me! Is this Wiggyltuff's Guild?" He asked them.
Both Riolu and Vulpix flinched in fear. "Uh, uh, yes, it is." Riolu said, shaking.
The Pokémon smiled. "Thank you!" he said, and then continued forward.
"Ah... he was scary!" Riolu whispered to his friend. Vulpix nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the said scary Pokémon stood at the entrance.
"Pokémon detected! Pokémon detected!" Diglett cried.
"Whose footprint? Whose footprint?" Loudred asked in return.
"The footprint is Armaldo's! The footprint is Armaldo's!" Diglett announced.
"Heard ya! Come in, visitor!" Loudred ensured. He went to the upper floor. "What brings you here, Armaldo?" he asked.
"Uh, yes, I'm here to see Iggly... I mean, Wigglytuff." Armaldo explained.
"HUH? The GUILDMASTER?" Loudred realized.
"Yes, is he here?" Armaldo asked.
"YEAH! Let me go GET him!" Loudred climbed back downstairs. He knocked on Wigglytuff's door. "GUILDMASTER! Someone's HERE to SEE you!" he exclaimed.
Seconds later the pinky and fluffy Pokémon emerged. "A visitor for me~?" he asked.
"That's RIGHT! He's upstairs!" Loudred explained.
"Thank you~! Friendly friend~!" Wigglytuff plodded up the ladder.
Wigglytuff stopped when he arrived. "Oh...!" Armaldo was nearly speechless. "Hey, Junior! Long time no see!" he greeted.
Everyone in the room turned to stare.
"Oh! Master! You're here~!" Wigglytuff cried happily, jumping around excitedly.
Armaldo was smiling wide. "So, you're okay, Junior? After... what happened?" he asked.
"Of course~! I knew you'd be back! Friendly friend~!" Wiggytuff said.
A sweat drop rolled down Armaldo. He's still cheerful as ever... he thought to himself.
"Let me show you around~!" Wigglytuff offered.
"Sure," Armaldo agreed, following his old friend down to the lower level.
After the grand tour of meeting everyone (except Vulpix and Riolu), the two buddies were in Wigglytuff's little room.
"Say, Junior..." Armaldo started.
"Yes?" Wigglytuff smiled.
"Want to go exploring again? For old times sake?" Armaldo suggested.
"Yes~! Of course, Master! You promised me, remember?" Wigglytuff reminded.
Armaldo stopped, to remember that day many times ago...
"Ooooohhh... Master... I don't want you to go!" Igglybuff cried.
"Junior, try to understand. I have to answer for the things I've done. But, when I've finished... if I still feel the same... I'll become an explorer again. I don't know when that will be... but when that day comes... I'd like to go exploring with you again." Armaldo explained.
Igglybuff sniffed. "It... it's a promise!" he said.
"I remember," Armaldo said, snapping back to life.
Wigglytuff jumped again. "Yes~! So, tomorrow~! We'll finish what we started!" he declared.
"What we started...?" Armaldo repeated.
"Yes~!" Wigglytuff said. "Our exploration of Fortune Ravine! To find the ancient ruins~!" he reminded.
Armaldo paused, and then smiled at his old apprentice.
It was a promise.