"I do not like the looks of those Murkrow," Alex pointed out, looking at the Flying and Dark types which stared at us from atop crumbling stone walls outside.

"Just ignore them," Robert said. "And they probably won't curse you."

Alex jabbed him in the ribs and he groaned in pain.

"Watch your head," Sarah advised as she ducked below the crumbling stone roof and down a set of stairs that lead to darkness.

"What is this place?" I asked.

"Used to be a grand hotel," Sarah said, letting out an Eelektross, which floated above the ground, generating enough electricity for us to see. "Now it's just desolate of the 'grand'. Hence the name, Desolate Hotel."

"I thought it was the Lost Hotel?" Robert asked.

"Nah," Sarah shook her head. "Desolate fits it much better."

We were now at the bottom of the stairs, a faded red carpet with many holes leading down a long hallway. The light allowing us to see that didn't come from Eelektross was coming from fires in several trash cans, several punk looking people by each one. There were even sleeping Litwick placed on candle holders on the sides of the walls for more light.

"Come on," Sarah directed us down the hall. "Ignore everyone. Some might want to pick a fight, but most won't. None will with me around."

Lucario huffed at my side, eyeing a Bisharp which was staring coldly at him from beside a punk dude with tall pink spikes on his head for hair. The guy made a tch sound when he saw me looking and I decided it would be best not to provoke. People like these wouldn't be an issue for me to handle, but that didn't mean I wanted to start unnecessary fights.

Suddenly, a loud boom echoed through the hall, followed by more, somewhat softer ones, but still really loud.

"What the-!?" Alex pressed her hands to her ears, which we were all doing.

Sarah gritted her teeth and grabbed the nearest punk girl leaning next to a burning trash can. "He's still here!?"

The woman she had grabbed nodded her piercing-ridden face and Sarah sighed, letting her go. Then she stalked down the hall towards the loud noise. We followed and only when we got closer was I able to make out hard rock singing. We turned a corner to a large room where many punk people were cheering loudly with the music, pumping their fists into the air. On a makeshift stage to our left, where everyone was cheering at, was a guy with big edgy black and white hair and deathly pale skin. He clearly lived by the definition 'rocking out' as he swung around with his bass, yelling into his skull and spike decorated speaker and pole, screaming out unintelligible words, but the crowd ate it up regardless.

"It's him," Robert said, pointing at the singer. "From the train."

I only noticed Sarah was gone when we saw her march onto the stage and grab the microphone away from the singer. He let his hands fall across the strings one last time, making it sound like it hurt.

"I thought you were done with this place?" Sarah asked, exasperated. "Aren't you supposed to move onto your next show, Piers?"

"Nah," he shook his head, causing his spiky hair to swing. "Showings all been cancelled due to the cult and whatnot. So I sent my lil sis on back home and decided to stay here for a spell."

He looked around, smiling. "This place is one bloody hell of a mess. I guess that's why I like it."

Sarah sighed. "Fine, do what you will. My father will kick you out before long, so I'd get out before then. When he does personal business, you don't wanna be there."

"Noted," Piers grinned, holding his mic in the air. "Who here wants another show!?"

The crowd cheered and Sarah just shook her head. "Come on you three, before he starts up again. Lucky our destination is just far enough away for his music to be a low echo."

"You mentioned your father?" I asked, not missing what she said. Her face soured at the mention, so I asked further, "Does he have something to do with why Clara needs our help?"

"Yeah, something like that," Sarah shook her head, trying to smile. "Come on, not far now."

We were walking down a different looking hallway now. Nicer looking and less things broken. She rapped on a door labeled "Keep Out". "Hey, sis! You in there!?"

No reply, then the door swung open. "I told you to-!"

She faltered when she registered that we were behind Sarah. Clara was currently wearing her usual clothes, but her black lipstick was only partially on and her hair was a mess. She took a second to glare at her sister before slamming the door.

"Oi!" Sarah shouted. "Don't slam the door in my face!"

I shared a glance with Alex. Now we could tell Sarah was definitely Clara's sister.

Sarah sighed. "You better be ready in one minute or Eelektross is breaking down the door."

Her Electric Pokemon shared a glance with his trainer and she nodded. Eelektross appeared to sigh like his trainer and began charging up electricity.

"Stand back," Sarah cautioned. "The blast may knock you back, so it's best to stand against the wall."

Just as Eelektross was getting ready to fire, Clara shoved the door open, still glaring at Sarah. "You brought them here? What, decided I needed a crowd to watch me get embarrassed?"

"No," Sarah snapped back. "I thought you would need encouragement and people to support you, 'cause obviously mine isn't enough!"

Clara stepped into her personal space, showing that she was half a foot shorter than Sarah, but she clearly didn't care. "I don't need them to support me. That's the last thing I want."

"Okay," I held up my hands, hoping to break the tension. "Can we at least know why Sarah brought us here?"

"There isn't a reason," Clara snapped angrily. "Now get out!"

Sarah folded her arms. "Clara here is being forced into a Pokemon battle with high stakes involved. Dangerous stakes. Our father didn't appreciate the first time she ran away, nor the last time. Now she has to fight for her freedom or be forced to work under him for the rest of her life."

"Why don't you just run away again and this time not come back?" Alex asked Clara directly.

"I didn't try to come back," Clara growled. "He caught me off guard."

"He stole two of her Pokemon," Sarah said. "Using them as hostages."

"If I win, I can take back my Pokemon and leave," Clara didn't look at us. "If I lose, I'll be forced to stay or my Pokemon get hurt."

"So you don't think you'll win?" Robert asked.

Clara scowled. "I won't, but I have no choice but to try."

"So you can't do anything to help?" I asked Sarah.

She shook her head. "Trust me, bringing you three here as support is the best I can do. Dear old dad and I have our own deal that I can't let break."

"Support?" Clara sounded disgusted. "I don't need no damn support from them!"

She stepped back into her room and slammed the door shut. Sarah shook her head sadly. "Sorry. Guess there's no point for you all to stick around. I'll see you out."

As we left with her, I couldn't help but look back at Clara's closed door. Lucario stopped and looked at me, his aura reaching out to me. I sighed, letting myself remember.

"What is it?" Alex had stopped, looking at the two of us.

I met her eyes and she searched mine, coming up with a grimace. She knew, both of us did.

"What are you two doing?" Sarah asked, Robert and her having stopped as well.

"We both had trash luck," Alex shook her head. "But it's probably best if it's just you."

"Story of our lives," I smiled sadly. "But you're probably right."

"We'll go watch the concert or something," Alex promised. "We'll be here."

I nodded and turned around, heading back to Clara's room. I heard Sarah asking what was going on, but Alex told her it would work out. Taking a deep breath, I knocked once on Clara's door. It opened a crack, Clara's glaring blue eyes meeting mine.

"Back again?" she said distastefully, but she didn't close the door. A good sign.

"It's just me," I said, trying to smile reassuringly. "Can I come in? I want to talk."

She stood there for what felt like the longest time before sighing and opening the door wider. "Sure, come on in."

Her room was dark, as what reflected on her personality. Walls painted crudely black, some parts worn and chipped, a hole the size of a fist on the left. Aside from some eyeshadow and spare earrings, there wasn't anything girly to be seen. There were some posters with various heavy metal bands featured, one of them showing a town called Spikemuth which had a scribbled signature on the front.

"Spikemuth," I looked at Clara. "Isn't that where that guy "Piers" is from?"

"He's the Gym Leader there," Clara said, sitting on a black comforter that lay messily on her rickety bed. "What did you want, Zeno?"

"We never did get the chance to talk properly back in Laverre," I said, testing the only chair in the room for durability before deciding to sit down. "So you saw my gym battle with Valerie?"

Clara smirked. "Oh, you bet I did. Best breakdown ever."

I chuckled. "Maybe it was, but it was also the worst," I became somber. "I was going through something rough, but I managed to get over it. Of course, I couldn't do that alone."

I looked at her closed door. "How long until you need to battle your dad?"

"Not for a while," Clara rested one hand on her palm, a scowl still on her face.

"Good," I tried to get comfortable in the chair. "Because I think you need to hear what I have to say. So please, just listen. Say whatever you want, but save it for after I'm done." I took a deep breath. "My journey as a Pokemon Trainer may have begun in Alola, but that's not where I started out."

"Obviously," Clara remarked, rolling her eyes. "You do not look Alolan."

"But it was the first place I'm willing to call home," I said, smiling as I thought back to the tropical islands. The adventures I had there, the time I had spent with my friends. "I was born in Kanto and my father... Well, let's just say he's not pleasant. A terrible person I was never smart enough to get away from until it was almost too late. Up until then, I had done terrible things. Things I won't tell you, not because I don't think you could handle it nor because I think you won't understand. I've worked hard to put that time of my life behind me, but I had to accept who I was."

"My friends," I closed my eyes, remembering back to Ula'ula island, where I had met up with Alex, Robert, Hau, and Lillie, all who forgave me. "They didn't care who I had been, what I had done, they just cared that I was their friend and that was enough. Something I didn't think I deserved."

"After everything that went down in Alola," I continued. "I decided to try and reconcile with my father. It was foolish and nothing changed," I looked up at Clara. "We're more alike than you would like to admit."

Clara didn't say anything, nor did her expression give away what she might be thinking. Then finally, after a minute of silence, "So that's why you can forgive so easily."

"Huh?"

Clara sighed. "Seriously, I was wondering why you could be so nice to me, despite what I've done to you and everyone else. You've been trying to change me this whole time, haven't you?"

I just stared for a couple seconds, before saying, "Yeah, I guess I was. Sorry."

"No," Clara looked away, grimacing. "It's fine." She laughed darkly. "Of course, that's what I should want to say."

She looked back at me, smirking. "I meant what I said before. Misfortune does follow you around wherever you go. You seem to have accepted that, even making it sound like a good thing."

She stepped closer, jabbing a finger into my chest. "Now prove us both wrong today."

She walked towards the door, swinging it open. "You took it upon yourself to change who I was. I didn't ask nor did I want you to. Let me do things my way. However, a little intervention couldn't hurt."

I smiled as she left. Now we were getting somewhere.

...

"What a broken arena," Alex commented as Sarah directed us towards the doorway that lead to the stands before leaving us.

"You sure Clara said she wouldn't mind our help?" Robert asked again.

"Yeah, something like that," I patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. We're only needed if things go south."

"They always do," Alex said as we found front row seats, close to the edge of the stands. Below was the cracked marble battlefield, pieces of trash littering the sidelines. Clara stood at the end closest to the entrance and had her Scizor out beside her. On the other end was her father. He had short graying hair that used to be black and wore biker clothes. He had his arms folded, grinning at his daughter as she glared at him, scars adorning his face. He definitely wasn't someone I wanted to mess with. Behind him was a cage. In it was Clara's Bisharp and a Pawniard. Both looked worse for wear, but watched as father and daughter were about to do battle.

"You know the rules," he said, voice deep. "You'll obey or I'll have Torkoal fry both Pokemon some more."

A Torkoal was positioned just outside the cage, smoke curling out of him. A small flame curled out of his mouth for show.

"How likely is it that Clara wins?" Alex whispered to me. We made sure to sit away from most of the punks around in the stands, but we couldn't be too careful.

"Depends," I folded my hands. "I think she doesn't give herself enough credit when it comes to her dad. But, even if she did win, I doubt her pops would just let her and her Pokemon go. That's where we come in."

"Hey, mind if I sit here?"

The three of us looked up to see Piers standing a seat above us and to the left.

"Sure," I said and he smile gratefully, sitting near me.

He stuck out a hand. "We met on the train, but never formally introduced ourselves. Piers."

"Zeno," I said, shaking his hand.

"Alex," she said after me. "Pleasure."

Robert just waved slightly, unable to reach the hand offered. "Robert."

"So what do you all think?" Piers looked down at the battle that had already gotten underway. Scizor vs Magmortar. A Pokemon that Scizor was crazy weak to, but was managing to dodge all the attacks. For now at least.

"Why?" Alex asked suspiciously.

"I'm not supporting that chap if that's what's making you worried," Piers fingered the ring on his metal choker. "I'm only here to see a good battle. However, I know a trap when I see one."

His eyes turned towards the entrance to this room, one that was guarded by three punkheads, all rolling a Dusk Ball in their hands. I took the time to observe everyone in the stands. I had a feeling they would all support their boss, even if it meant subduing his own daughter.

"Though I'm willing to bet you already knew that," Piers smiled sideways at me. "I'm offering my assistance."

"Why?" I repeated the same question Alex had asked him.

"I stayed here because I thought these were my kind of people," Piers expression turned dark. "Kinda reminds me of Spikemuth here. But Yell and I got morals. These folks don't. Beside," he grinned, which looked haunting due to his pale skin. "I want to cause some damage here. Wouldn't be a party if nothin' happened."

"Fair enough," I sighed. "You're a gym leader, correct? You must be strong then. We're glad to have you as support."

"Hey, no biggie," Piers rolled around a Dusk Ball in his hand. "My partner's been anxious for a while now."

"Zeno," Alex's voice was tense. I turned back toward the battle, where it was just finishing up. And by the looks of it, Clara seemed to be winning. We watched as she commanded her Scizor with ferocity, but it was controlled, not done out of pure rage like she had battled with me back during the whole Power Plant fiasco.

Clara's eyes met mine for a single instant. I remembered the words of advice I had given her way back when she, Alex, Robert, and I had traveled together for that brief period of time.

"Looks like I have to show you type advantage doesn't mean everything!"

"Bullet Punch!" Clara shouted. Scizor, burnt in several placed on his metal body, unleashed quick rapid fire movement, causing Magmortar to stumble back. "Acrobatics!"

He zoomed around the Fire type's body, dealing massive damage. When Scizor leaped backwards, skidding on the marble surface, Magmortar collapsed.

Clara's father sighed. "Insolent child." He raised his gaze, showing no love for his daughter in them. "Didn't I teach you that disobeying your father would result in punishment?"

He snapped his fingers and the Torkoal began heating up. Clara's body twitched, like she was wanting to run, but knew she couldn't do anything. So she looked at us, me, eyes pleading. I had a feeling she never got much help from anyone in her life, which resonated within me.

"Greninja! Lucario!" I shouted, rising from my seat. "NOW!"

Greninja leaped from the shadows of the stands, throwing two Shurikens that cut of Torkoal's attack and blasted the Fire type back. Lucario ran ahead of the Water type, breaking the bars apart with his paws.

Clara's father turned to face us, the four of us now standing. "It seems you actually have people fighting for your sake now?" He smirked. "Time to show you what happens when you mess with me. Deal with them!"

There were around a couple dozen punks, all letting out different Pokemon, mainly Dark and Poison types.

"Let's give them our protection," Piers shouted, throwing his pokeball. A large bipedal Pokemon sprang out, his fur black, white, and grey. His eyes were red as his tongue lolled out, narrowing his gaze at our many opponents. "Obstagoon, use Obstruct!"

Just as several attacks were shot our way, Obstagoon jumped in front of us, holding both arms close to his chest. An X like barrier shot up in front of him, protecting against every attack.

"Parabolic Charge!"

Electricity blasted everywhere from Clara's Heliolisk, taking down several Pokemon. A burst of light nearly blinded me from the right and I looked to see a Chesnaught landing down on the battlefield, flaring up a Spiky Shield just as several Pokemon tried to hit him with physical moves.

"Alright!" Robert cheered. "Way to go, Chesnaught!"

"Flamethrower!" Alex shouted, both her Pyroar and Ninetales blasting streams of fire, making the punks scramble away as their Pokemon dealt with the attacks.

Clara's father zeroed his gaze on me and his eyes narrowed. He let out an Electivire and the Electric type Pokemon jumped towards me, fist crackling with electricity. With a howl, Lucario appeared in front of me, swinging his fist to meet with Electivire's, knocking me over with the force of the blow.

"Lucario!" I shouted. He turned his head to grin at me, before meeting Electivire's gaze. With a howl, he pushed the enemy Pokemon back and leaped forwards, slamming the Electric type with a bone. Leaping backwards, he threw two new bones, each one knocking Electivire back a step.

"Gren," Greninja said, coming at my side, carrying both Bisharp and Pawniard.

"Good job," I nodded and let out Arcanine. "Get them out of here buddy!"

Greninja put the two injured Pokemon on Arcanine's back and he shot out of the room, blasting through the closed doors and out of the hotel.

"Let's test this out again," I took a step forwards, concentrating. "Greninja!"

The connection formed and a column of water erupted around Greninja. Unsteady, brimming with power. Just what we needed.

"Everyone back!" I shouted. "Let's get out of here!"

Greninja leaped into the middle of the fray, just slamming into other opponents to knock them away. He then blew away the water column, forming it back into his cloak and weapons.

"The hell!" Clara shouted next to me.

"Oh, right," I grinned. "You never got to see this back in Laverre. Let me show you what you have to overcome later on! Water Shuriken!"

Greninja shot two larger shurikens, each one taking down two Pokemon. Meanwhile, Lucario blasted Electivire back towards Clara's father, who's expression was now one of rage.

"Kill them!" he shouted over the chaos.

"Great father, huh," Clara said sarcastically.

"Mine's not any better," I checked to make sure that Alex, Robert, and Piers were already out of the room. "Now come on, we're the last ones left. Greninja! Lucario!"

As soon as we halfway down the main hallway in the hotel, Greninja and I both stumbled, our connection lost as he returned to his regular self.

"C'mon," Clara hauled me to my feet as Greninja picked himself back up with the help of Lucario. "No collapsing on me now."

As we ran, the sounds of pursuers behind, Clara said, "Thank you, Zeno."

I smiled as we neared the stairs. "Friends help each other, it's what we do. So no need to thank me yet. Besides, we're not out of the woods yet!"

Clara laughed, grinning despite the situation. Sarah was waiting at the top of the stairs, nodding at us as we passed. She gave me a smile, her eyes saying "thank you". Then she and her Eelektross stood at the top of stairs with the intention of letting no one pass.

Chapters seem to be getting longer and longer now. Ah, feels good. Oh, if any of you were wondering why there wasn't a whole lot of interaction with Clara and her father, there's a reason. I plan on doing more about Clara in Pokemon Dark one day, so there's that to look forward to. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the chapter and until next time readers. Toodles