Chapter 16

"Evil Intentions"

Upon arriving at their base, Tabitha promptly took Karania inside despite her futile resistance and then began to promptly take her to where she needed to be for the time being.

"I don't wanna hear a word from you, got it?" Tabitha told Karania menacingly.

Karania's eyes were wide but she nodded.

Tabitha smirked, "Good. If you cooperate, we'll let you go nice 'n easy. But if you don't, you'll be in for one helluva time. Got it?"

Karania again didn't speak but nodded.

Tabitha nodded pleased and locks the cell as he left.

After Tabitha left, Karania began to think to herself about several things while trying to remain hopeful. "How could this happen? They did it so easily..." Karania thought as she recalled how she had been captured. "There must be a way to get out of here..." She thought desperately looking around her cell and peering out through the bars of her cell. At the time it appeared hopeless, but all Karania could do now, was wait.

Tabitha barged into Maxie's office, "Sir! We've succeeded in capturing Karania Avalon!"

Maxie looked up, "You did? Excellent! How well did capturing her go?"

Tabitha responded, grinning smugly, "It went as easily as it was planned."

"Where is she now?" Maxie asked.

"I put her in cell B-1. Is that okay?" Tabitha asked.

"That'll do fine. What about the other kids?" Maxie asked after a moment of thinking.

He shrugged. "Ah... they got away. Were they important or something?"

"That girl that was traveling with Karania, she got in my way in the Cave of Origin. I wanted to teach her a lesson... Maybe we can still get them as I have a feeling that they will follow to try to save Karania, so maybe in that regard, we can nab them too." Maxie replied.

"Y'mean that one kid? She was the one who got in your way?" he couldn't resist laughing. "Boss, you got beat by some kid?"

"No, she didn't beat me... That was Karania who did... Darn well stomped me she did... The kid held me up from attempting to steal the Soul Dew." Maxie replied trying to explain what had transpired.

"Mmm... I'm surprised you took that calmly," Tabitha shrugged, but he wouldn't push his luck in giving Maxie too much wit. "So our next mission is to capture the other two, then?"

"That would be correct. Now go fetch Karania! I have a bone to pick with her!" Maxie snarled.

Tabitha jumped. "Yes, sir!"

"Well? What are you waiting for? GO GET HER NOW!" Maxie bellowed.

Tabitha was out the door in a flash, remembering to think twice about Maxie's temper. He entered the prison compound and headed to Karania's cell.

Karania looked up as she heard a key being inserted in the lock to the door of her cell. A moment later the door to her cell swung open with Tabitha standing in the doorway blocking her escape.

"Alright, the Boss wants to have a word with you. But don't say anything to upset him. I'm on your side for a sec as I accidentally ticked him off. Now come on." Tabitha grabbed her wrist and began to lead her out of the prison compound.

Karania nodded and walked with Tabitha as he led her up to Maxie's office.

"Okay, Boss, I brought her." Tabitha said, and placed his right hand on Karania's shoulder. "Should I stay here or go?"

"You'll wait outside is what you'll do!" Maxie growled.

"Okay." Tabitha held his hands up and backed out the door, closing it behind him.

"Well, well, Karania..." Maxie said, "Long time no see, eh?"

"The longer the better, in my opinion." Karania replied stiffly.

"No need to be so cruel, my dear." Maxie told her.

"I still barely know you and I prefer to keep it that way if you don't mind." Karania replied with narrowed eyes.

Maxie folded his arms, unfazed. "Fine, then. Perhaps I should simply skip to the point, then."

"What are you hinting at?" Karania asked her eyes still narrowed.

"I've recently learned of this power you have... you can communicate with the legendary Pokémon, am I right?"

"Yeah, so... I was born with that gift, but what does this have to do with that?" Karania asked still with slightly narrowed eyes that showed a hint of surprise in them.

"Well... now that I have you in my grasp, I believe I should take advantage of that power." Maxie replied with a wicked smile.

"And if I refuse?" Karania replied stiffly.

"Then I will have no choice but to force you to cooperate with me." he said, smirking.

"Like how?" Karania asked feigning interest.

"I have my ways," Maxie replied.

"I still don't see WHY I should use my power to help you when I don't believe in your cause." Karania replied stiffly clearly not wanting to use her power for evil purposes.

"Would you care to know something? I don't care what you think," Maxie sneered, "and what I say will happen."

"I don't think so." Karania said stiffly.

"Oh yes it will." Maxie told Karania with an evil smile. "Even if I have to brainwash you to make you do it!"

Karania gasped, "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, but I would." Maxie told her.

Karania backed away trying to get away from this madman.

"And where to you think you're going?" Maxie asked with an evil sort of smile.

Karania didn't answer; she just kept backing away.

Maxie grabbed Karania by the shoulder. "I suppose you've decided not to cooperate. It's such a pity that I always have to do things the hard way.…"

Karania struggled, trying to get out of Maxie's grasp, but it was to no avail as Maxie had a firm hold on her shoulder.

"Back to your cell for now. I obviously can't persuade you to do my bidding…." Maxie took Karania's arm and led her back to her cell.

"You won't get away with this!" Karania cried as Maxie forced her back into her cell.

Maxie shook his head and tutted. "Honestly... women these days…." he began to walk back to his office.

Karania tried the door to her cell, trying to get it open so she could escape but it was locked and she knew she was trapped.

"Try as you may, my dear, you won't get out!" he called as he left the compound.

Karania walked to the back of her cell and sank down upon the small bed that was in her cell and placed her head in her hands and started to cry.

Mal and Edgar made their way through the Fiery Path and began to make their way towards Fallarbor and unfortunately that meant, going crashing through bushes of volcanic ash.

"Well... it's about time we got out of there, but we're in what? An ash field? This is nuts!" Mal said.

"Oh shut up and walk, complaining won't make it go away..." Edgar muttered annoyed.

"I wasn't complaining! I'm just saying that... that... argh!" Mal folded her arms and continued walking.

"We don't have time for this! Karania is in trouble! She needs help, and here we are walking like snails! Let's pick up the pace! We must get to Meteor Falls and rescue Karania!" Edgar cried.

"I know, I know!" she replied, annoyed, "But what if we throw ourselves into danger?"

"Archie is following behind us, he said he'd be right behind us..." Edgar replied.

Mal sighed. "Alright, fine. Let's go!" she began to run ahead.

Mal and Edgar ran through the ash and finally made their way into Fallarbor and quickly ran through Fallarbor so they could gain some time to hopefully save Karania.