Chapter Twelve: And I'm Only Passing Through
"We're here."
Carla could hear the faint sound of water through the mouth of the cave. It enticed her, beckoned her playfully.
"Have you been here before?" she asked.
"Yeah," Dave replied without taking his eyes off the entrance. "I passed through here, but I didn't really look at the place, you know?"
Do you mind if I come with you? Just until you get to Meteor Falls?
Carla wasn't at all sure why Dave had asked her that question, or why she'd said yes, but she couldn't regret it. She was glad for the company, and it helped to get a second opinion on her training.
It had taken Tess several attempts before she'd been able to master Shadow Ball. Carla suspected it would have been longer had it not been for Zoe and Nixie, and their respective experience of Weather and Electro Ball. She'd always thought Tess was the most vulnerable one, but in the long-term it was probably going to be Nixie. Although she was swift and agile, she was also very small and - Carla hated applying this word to anyone on her team - the most fragile of the four.
If it wasn't possible for Nixie and Zoe to evade attacks, perhaps they could deflect them.
"I guess we can have a look at it now," Carla said. Her fingers were tingling with excitement as she stepped inside.
The sound of water was louder now, more dangerous. Carefully, Carla and Dave stepped over a wooden bridge, almost wincing as their feet made the bridge creak loudly. Carla couldn't help but look over the side at the blue crystalline pool beneath. She saw a couple of Goldeen swimming around, their tails waving elegantly.
She should probably get a Water-type at some point.
"Wow," Dave breathed, stopping in his tracks. Carla looked up and felt the air leave her lungs.
Before them was a mass of water that tumbled down a cliff face and into a pool, sending ripples everywhere. Carla was glad she and Dave were standing on a stone ledge and not too close to the waterfall, but she couldn't banish the feeling that they were in a sacred place and she didn't want to disturb it by speaking.
"Well, if that isn't a scene from a romance film brought to life."
The teens started and looked to their left. A man in his early forties was also standing on the ledge. His sandy hair was plastered to his head and his clothes were dripping with water.
"Careful," he said. "The rocks are pretty slippery."
"Thanks for the warning," Dave said. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wasn't looking where I was putting my feet." He ruefully scratched his head, causing more droplets to fall onto his shoulders. "I'll be OK once I get out of here."
He smiled and walked past them, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the stone. His shoes squelched in the cool air.
Dave and Carla looked at each other. "We should probably go see if he is OK," Dave said.
They followed the footprints out of the cave and found the stranger leaning against the cliff, his face tilted up to the sun.
"Hey, um..." Dave said cautiously. The stranger opened his eyes. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"It was just an unwelcome dip. Think I scared a couple of Goldeen, but no harm done. Thanks for asking."
"Do you know if we can go further into the Falls?" Dave asked.
"Nope. The Draconids won't let anyone into the deeper sections without their permission."
"The Draconids?" Carla frowned. "I thought the clan was extinct."
"Oh, they were. But they've made a comeback over the past three years, complete with a new set of values." The stranger frowned as well, tilting his head. "Where are you guys going?"
"We just wanted to have a look at the Falls," Dave replied. "How long have you been on the road?"
Sam chuckled at Dave's question. "Since I was about your age. And I've seen a lot of places. You never forget your first sight of Stark Mountain, with smoke billowing out of it."
"Where else have you been?" Dave sounded deeply intrigued. "Sorry - are we bothering you, or..."
"It's not a problem. Why don't you two sit down for a bit while I dry off? Apart from that big waterfall and the mini-falls, you're not missing much. The Draconids aren't that keen on letting people into the other levels."
That made sense. Now the Order was making a comeback, they would want to reinstate themselves in Meteor Falls, since it was the home of the old Draconids.
"So...where else have you been?" Dave asked again, tentatively this time.
Sam exhaled loudly, shaking his head. A few droplets went flying onto his jacket. "A lot of places. I've seen Dragonspiral Tower, Undella Bay, Tohjo Falls... Seen a lot of places and it never gets old."
"You must have been travelling for a long time."
Sam chuckled. "You could say that, yeah. Even been to Kalos a couple of times. The Anistar Sundial at sunset...now that is a sight to see."
For one moment, Carla found herself envying Sam. She wondered what it would be like, to travel as he had and see so many different things and places and people. She watched as Dave's eyes lit up while Sam talked about his travels. It sounded so wonderful - and carefree.
But then she reminded herself why she was doing this. She was on this journey for her family's sake - and that couldn't change.
Eventually, Sam's clothes were dry enough for his liking. He got up, shouldered his backpack, said goodbye and walked off down the path.
"Wonder where he's going next," Dave mused. He turned back to Carla...and the excitement faded from his face. "You're going to Fallarbor, aren't you?"
"Yes. Do you remember what I said about the floors in Norman's Gym?"
"Yeah, I remember." Dave held out a hand; Carla took it without hesitation.
"Good luck, Dave," she sad sincerely.
"You too."
She didn't watch Dave walk down the road Sam had just taken. Instead, she turned around and walked through Meteor Falls, barely noticing the spray as it brushed against her face and dampened her hair.
Most trainers didn't stay long in Fallarbor. It was an isolated place at the foot of Mount Chimney, and had suffered damage from falling ash. Those that did stay were mostly interested in trying their hand at the Contest Hall.
Carla spent her days on the roads east and west of the town, looking for trainers to battle and practising new techniques with her team. She noticed that she received more challenges when Tess was walking beside her, or when she had Nixie perched on her shoulders.
She started keeping them out all the time.
This was useful, as Zoe suffered in the proximity of Mount Chimney. Sometimes, Carla had to choose between sweltering in the heat and getting ash in her hair.
The path east of Fallarbor was known as the Grey Path. It was obvious why as soon as Carla stepped onto it. As she walked, the prints she left behind slowly disappeared, as if she had never been there at all. The ash turned out to be a blessing and a curse when it comes to battles: Nixie moved so quickly she was able to use it as a smokescreen, but Zoe and Tess were less agile. One battle involved a Pidgeotto who blew ash everywhere with every flap of her wings.
It was always fun looking at the different patterns on the wild Spinda. They reminded Carla of a colouring book she'd had when she was younger. The way they walked and bumped into each other was oddly endearing; Tally would have liked them.
One day, everything changed.
She sensed it watching her before she saw anything. She stopped walking and turned around slowly, her skin prickling.
The first thing she saw was a single yellow eye set in a round grey body. The eye narrowed, as if assessing whether Carla was a threat or whether she was prey.
Nixie's claws gripped Carla's T-shirt.
Carla slowly took a pace backwards. The pokémon's spines quivered sharply and Carla stopped dead, breathing slowly through her nose. She knew this species. What was it?
Whirlipede.
Nixie scampered off Carla's shoulder and stood between her trainer and the Whirlipede, tail fluffed and cheeks crackling and snapping with blue electricity.
The Whirlipede rolled towards her; Nixie quickly swerved to the side, sending ash everywhere. She ran as fast as she could, but the Whirlipede was close behind.
Carla knew what was going on. This was a Rollout attack, which would increase in speed and power the more the Whirlipede used it. Nixie was swift, but she couldn't outrun it forever.
Quickly, Carla pulled out another capsule. This wouldn't be a fair fight - she knew that. But she had no idea where the Whirlipede had come from, and there was something about it she didn't like. Zoe was out of the question - she wasn't mobile enough - and Tess wouldn't be able to dodge in time. It had to be Rakel.
The Misdreavus materialised in mid-air; her eyes narrowed as she saw what was going on.
"Wait until it's close enough, and then hit it with Psybeam. I'll let you know when."
Please, Latias. Let this work.
Carla held her breath; beside her, Rakel did the same. Then Nixie came running right in front of them.
"NOW!"
The bolt of coloured energy hit the Whirlipede close to its eye; quick as lightning, purple darts shot out from its body.
Something punched Carla in the gut. She gasped and doubled over, one hand pressed to her stomach. When she looked up, she saw Rakel staring down at her, red eyes wide with horror.
Carla couldn't breathe.
Rakel screamed. Carla tried to cover her ears, but nausea flooded her stomach and she knelt down, both hands pressed to her abdomen. Nixie. Where was Nixie? What was happening?
Then there was a blast of flame. As Carla raised her head, she saw a Growlithe standing beside the scorched form of the Whirlipede. Nixie scampered over to her and perched on her knees, eyes alert and anxious.
"I'm so sorry. Ever since he evolved, he's been..." A boy was standing over her, frowning. "Hey, are you OK?"
She tried to shake her head, but she couldn't.
"Hold on. I'm gonna call the helpline." The trainer returned the Whirlipede and took out his phone, pressing a couple of buttons. After a moment, he said: "One...Route 113...Yes." He glanced anxiously at Carla, pressing his lips together tightly.
His face suddenly brightened. "Hi. I'm with someone and she's been hurt. Her lips look funny." He peered at Carla's mouth and said: "Yes, they're purple."
Purple lips. She'd been poisoned.
"Hang on. They're sending a teleporter right now."
Within moments, two figures appeared next to the trainer; one was white and green, and the other was dressed all in black.
"You?"
It was Luka.
"She is gonna be OK, right?" the young trainer asked desperately.
"She'll be fine, but I need to get her to a doctor. There's one in Fallarbor; I'll teleport her there."
Arceus, please. I don't want to die.
"Don't worry." Luka's hands gripped her shoulders. "You won't."
"You need to drink this, Carla. OK?"
Carla took the cup of green liquid from the doctor and downed the contents. Immediately, she clapped a hand to her mouth, revolted by the taste. The doctor placed an orange bowl next to her.
"That drink will start to get the poison out of your system. Can you lie back and lift your T-shirt for me now?
Gritting her teeth and fighting the urge to vomit, Carla did so, carefully exposing her stomach.
"Oh, that's not bad. Luckily it was just the one barb; it seems to have dissolved when it hit your skin, but you're still going to need about two stitches and a lot of rest while you recover from the poison. Have you got a room at the Centre?"
She nodded, staring at nothing.
"OK, I'll get you checked out and into a safehouse."
"Can you do that?"
Carla had almost forgotten Luka was in the room. She swallowed again and clenched her fists.
"If it's in the trainer's best interests, yes. Do you know about safehouses, Carla?"
Carla shook her head. The motion caused her nausea to increase and she put a hand over her mouth again. Nixie nudged her leg; the tiny notion made Carla reach for the nearby bowl and only just in time.
"That's good. That means it's working." The doctor waited for the retching to cease before saying: "Every town or city in Hoenn's got at least one League-approved safehouse for injured trainers to rest. You're going to need a lot of rest over the next few days."
"How long will that be?" Carla croaked.
"About five or six days."
Five or six days? Carla didn't have five or six days.
"I'm going to need you to keep still while I do the stitches, OK?"
Carla remained as still as she could, teeth gritted and fists clenched.
"Finished. You took that really well." The doctor smiled encouragingly. "I know that green stuff tastes vile, but you're going to need to drink a lot of it while you're resting. Not too much, though - about one cup every two or three hours in the first day or so." He straightened up and said: "I'll ask Linda to make some calls and see which safehouses have a free room."
Linda turned out to be the receptionist. "Do you have any other pokémon on your team, other than these two?" she said, gesturing toward Nixie and Rakel.
"Snorunt and Vullaby."
"Oh, that's all right. Nice and small. We'll get you settled in no time." With one encouraging smile at Carla, Linda left the room.
"While she's calling the safehouses, Carla," the doctor said, "how did you get poisoned in the first place? You don't have any Poisons on your team, and the only Poison-types I know of in the area are those used by the ninjas and they specialise in gas, not venom."
Carla lowered her gaze, suddenly reluctant to meet the doctor's eyes.
"Did something attack you?" His voice was gentle.
She shook her head and was rewarded with another bout of nausea. "It was an accident."
That wasn't a lie. The Whirlipede hadn't meant to hit her.
But it could have done.
It would have done, if it hadn't been for Nixie.
"It wasn't the trainer's fault."
The doctor nodded. "I see."
Linda chose that moment to enter the room again. "Just spoken to Simon - he says they'll take her in."
"Good. Thanks, Linda." The doctor hesitated before turning to Luka. "If it's not too much trouble, may I ask you for help getting her there?"
"It's no trouble at all."
"Wait," Carla said. "Who's Simon?" Were they really going to hand her off to a complete stranger for five days?
"Simon Carpenter. He and his wife own a farm just outside Rustboro. I'll come to make sure you're settled in, and then we'll get you checked out of the Centre - but I have to ask you to return your pokémon first."
Rakel hissed at him, her eyes glowing.
"It's OK," the doctor said soothingly. "Nobody's going to hurt your trainer."
Carla stared down into Nixie's beseeching eyes. "It's going to be OK," she said reluctantly to the Pachirisu, then raised her eyes to Rakel's. "I promise."
Rakel didn't look pleased, but she nodded.
Carla took out the capsules and returned her team.
"Put your arms around my neck." The doctor slipped his arms under Carla's knees and back and lifted her carefully. "Up we go." Nausea rose again and Carla swallowed; she didn't want to be sick all over him.
Luka called out Greenlea, and Carla braced herself.
When she opened her eyes, it was to see a small house surrounded by trees and tilled fields. The door opened and a thickset man came outside, waving. "Hey, Tim!"
"Hi, Ross! Didn't know you were here." The doctor - Tim - sounded happy to see him.
"Si called me, said he needed help with the trees." Ross' blue eyes landed on Carla. "This must be the other guest."
"Is she here?" A slim woman with short brown hair had appeared behind Ross. She grimaced sympathetically. "You're going to be all right, sweetie. Bring her on in, Tim; I've made up the sofa."
Carla barely had time to take in the rustic kitchen before she was being carried through to another room, carefully placed on the sofa and tucked underneath a warm, soft quilt.
"I'll be back in about two days to check up on you," Tim said. "You're in safe hands."
Carla saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes, and made herself relax a little.
"Take care of yourself," Luka mouthed.
"Thank you both." Carla hated how shaky her voice was.
Tim smiled warmly at her. "You're welcome. See you in a couple of days."
With one final wink from Luka, they both went into the kitchen, leaving Carla alone on the sofa. She stared up at the white ceiling, her fists clutching the quilt.
This was the first time something like this had happened to her. There would not be a second.
She would make sure of that.
I know this chapter is shorter than the others, but this seemed like a good place to end it.
This chapter's title comes from Gypsy Boots by Terri Clark.
Hope you're enjoying the story so far! Please leave a review if you liked it.