As Trevor came to his senses and opened his eyes, he winced at the glare of an all-consuming white light. He groaned and wondered whether he had died and had passed on to the afterlife.

"Trevor?"

The sound of Aiden's voice snapped him fully awake, revealing a set of white-colored walls. It didn't take long for him to recognize the cushioned beds and laced curtains of the hospital wing Trevor rested in following his entry exam. He attempted to sit up, yet gave a pained grunt upon feeling a sharp pain sensation which coursed throughout his chest. He snapped his head downwards and saw his chest and torso wrapped in a thick, white cast.

"Hey...you awake? Can you hear me?"

Trevor abruptly turned his head to the left and found Aiden sitting a bed adjacent to him, his satchel laying right next to her. He jerked his head vertically to indicate yes.

"Thank Arceus. If you didn't...I..."

Aiden trailed off, her eyes shimmering with tears practically screaming to be let free. In the midst of her sudden silence, Trevor noticed a similarly thick cast wrapped around her right leg and let out a concerned gasp.

"Aiden, your-"

Aiden 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..."

Aiden gave a loud sniffle as she allowed finally allowed her pent-up tears to roll down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm so...so sorry," she whispered.

Trevor's eyes widened in surprise. "For...what?"

"For everything! For ignoring your warnings, for dragging you into a fight we obviously couldn't win. You told me over and over to not engage, yet I just didn't listen, and look where that got us. You nearly died because of me and my stupid stubbornness! All cause I prioritized some mission over the life of my teammate."

Aiden sighed weakly. "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, just dragging you along on some stupid glory-seeking adventure and putting your life at risk, all cause of my pride and ego. I really am like Alpha."

Rummaging through the satchel laying next to her, Aiden took out her silver badge and chucked it across the room in frustration. She shook her head, wiped her tears, then reclined onto the edge of her bed with a weak smile. "But I know I'll be fine, cause I have someone smart and cautious like you to make up for what I lack. I need to start listening to your judgement more rather than just using you as a navigator, and I can't believe it took me this long to finally internalize that. You're my valued teammate, and I need you as much as you need me. So don't ever say that you ain't worth it ever again, you hear me?"

Trevor gave an understanding nod, prompting one of Aiden's signature bucktoothed grins. The pair allowed himself to sink into the folds of his pillow, allowing themselves a much-needed rest.

Until they were interrupted by a voice which rang from out of nowhere. "Hey!"

Both Aiden and Trevor jumped slightly, then turned towards the Dewott now standing in front of their beds, seemingly having apparated from nowhere. 'Rin!' Aiden gasped.

"That's...my name, yeah. Flattered you remember it so well."

Aiden gave a frustrated pout and crossed her arms. "We were kinda in the middle of something here, y'know."

"Hey, is that any way to thank me for saving both your asses for the second time, hmm?"

"I-" Aiden abruptly stopped speaking, then sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry. Thank you for saving us- we'd definitely be dead if it wasn't for you. If there's anything we could do to thank you, don't hesitate to ask." Trevor jerkily nodded in agreement.

"Anything?"

Both Aiden and Trevor eyed Rin suspiciously. 'Err, what exactly...do you have in mind?' Aiden tentatively asked, "I don't actually mean anything, mind, I was just tryin' to be polite."

"Don't worry, my request is simple. I want to join your team."

'What?!' Aiden tried standing up before the pain of her strained foot forced her back down. "Y-you want to join us? As in you want to be a member of Team Spirit?"

"Yeah, that's what I said...So am I in yet?"

"Whoa, woah, woah," Aiden said while holding her palms outwards. "I'm real grateful that you saved our lives and all, but...where did this come from? Why do you wanna join us all out of the blue like this?"

Rin gave yet another shrug, a slight crease of his lips revealing the faintest of smiles. "Cause I feel like it."

"Grr, you're just saying that to spite me, aren't you?! We'll we're not just gonna let you waltz right into Team Spirit just cause you said so. We've got super high standards after all, right Treph?! ...Uh, Treph?"

Aiden slowly turned to her right and saw Trevor staring at Rin in silent awe. "...H-how did you do that thing where you jumped in midair?" Trevor asked excitedly, "...Can you show me?"

"Treph, no!"

Rin let out a sly grin. "Looks like your standards have been met. Rin crossed his arms with a sly grin. It's two-to-one, I see little room for argument."

With some effort, Aiden leaned towards Trevor and began whispering into his hear, holding a paw near her mouth to prevent Rin from hearing. "Hey, Treph. I'm not too upset about him joining us, but he...doesn't know that you're a human yet, does he? Should...we tell him?"

In light of everything that had occurred prior, Trevor had completely forgotten that he was still an outsider to this world. Staring at Rin's cold eyes and the imposing scalchops attached to his hips, he swiftly made up his mind and shook his head. Aiden gave a subtle nod, then turned her attention towards a now bored-looking Rin.

"Well, alright. I guess having you around couldn't hurt, especially with you saving our lives and all." Aiden rummaged through her satchel, then handed a white scarf to Rin. "Welcome to Team Spirit, I guess."

Rin tied the scarf around his neck and began admiring his reflection through one of his scalchop-blades before Holly burst into the room with a deafening 'SLAM' of the metallic door, her mellow blue eyes and bright pink fur betraying her absolutely furious countenance. 'What is it with this team and Pokémon barging in unannounced while Pokémon need rest?!' the Audino shouted exasperatedly, "And what do you think you're doing, bringing that weapon in here?!" She rushed towards Rin, tightly gripped him by the arm, and began dragging him out. "Absolutely unbelievable! And I thought Aiden was the reckless one!"

Rin winced in pain as Holly continued to drag him across the room. "Hey, ow, hey! We can talk about this, can't we? We can- GAAAH!" Rin screamed as Holly unceremoniously threw him outside. 'And stay out!' she shouted while slamming the door behind him.

Both Trevor and Aiden looked at each other in stunned silence before erupting into fits of hysterical laughter. "Our new teammate, ladies and gentlemen," Aiden wheezed between bouts of uncontrollable giggling, "Fits in perfectly!"

END OF CHAPTER 5