Chapter 16: A Long Winding Road

"I'd like to try something different this time."

Nixie listened attentively.

"You're going to be working on your Quick Attack," Carla said, "but when you get faster charge up your cheeks. When you hit them, unleash the electricity; it'll give them a little shock."

Nixie nodded, then started zooming around the small clearing as fast as she could.

"I'm kind of surprised we're not training in the city." Bruno was holding two capsules carefully, as if deciding which of his team to use first.

"There are four of us," Carla told him. "We'd be disturbing the peace if we all trained at the same time in Fortree."

Bruno shrugged. "Fair point. Hey, Dave, ready for some serious training?"

Dave grinned as he rolled up the sleeves of his jacket. "You bet."

Carla felt a light touch on her arm. It was Tally, and she looked a little bit worried. "Dave's got five badges," she whispered. "Do you think Bruno's team can handle that?"

Even though Carla's first instinct was to say no, she couldn't help wondering if this was for Bruno's benefit as much as it was for Dave's. Judging from Frank's bright, alert eyes and confident stance, Bruno had been taking training more seriously lately.

Maybe that talk with his dad's friend had inspired him.

"He thinks they can."

"What about us?" Tally looked even more nervous than before. "You've got four badges." She pointed towards where Layla was leaping about as she dodged Treble's Magical Leaf; some of the sharp leaves barely missed her as she moved from side to side. "Magical Leaf doesn't look like that on TV."

She had a point. The leaves weren't as fast as they could be.

"Why don't you ask her to speed up? The speed increases the force of the attack - and it would give Layla more of a challenge. Is there a pool somewhere? We could work on something with Boing."

Tally shook her head. "We can't."

"Why not?"

Tally was looking at her shoes; some of her black hair had escaped its ponytail and hung loose around her face. "We...we can't."

Carla glanced over her shoulder to check the boys couldn't hear them. "Has something happened?"

A nod was the only reply she got.

"Let's go over here." Carla led Tally over to the shadows of the trees. "Is everything all right with Boing?"

"I gave him away."

"You what?"

"I didn't want to!" Tally cried defensively. "Wailmer are really big, it was hard looking after him on the farm and after he evolves, he'll be huge. How can I take care of and train a Wailord?"

She turned her back on Carla, wrapping her arms tightly around herself.

"I'm sorry," Carla said softly.

Tally wiped at her face a couple of times before turning around again. "I miss him, Carly. The trainer said he'll take really good care of him, but I miss Boing a lot. Treble and Glossie do too. My team's not the same without him." Her eyes welled up. "What if he hates me?"

"Did he look like he hated you when you said goodbye?"

Tally shook her head.

"Then he doesn't hate you. Who's his new trainer?"

"He's a water specialist from Pacifidlog. He was in the area outside the farm; every day I'd take Boing to a pool and he'd be there with his team. We just got talking and...Boing got on better with him than he did with me. They understood each other." Tally blinked, causing a tear to trickle down her cheek. "I figured that Boing would be better off with him than he would with me."

Carla hated to admit it, even to herself, but Tally was probably right. "If you really thought that was best for Boing, then...you did the right thing."

Tally gave her a tiny smile. "Thanks, Carly."

Carla felt a chill close to her right leg; Zoe was standing beside her, looking up curiously. Rakel floated above her.

They probably should go back to the others.

"Did that specialist trade with you for Boing?"

"No. But he did give me this weird tooth; he said if I catch a Clamperl and train it until it gets too big for its shell, I can put the tooth inside the shell and trade it to get a Huntail. That's why I want to go to the Safari Zone - to see if there are Clamperl there."

Carla hoped he had been telling the truth.

Why would you doubt that?

Brushing the small voice away, Carla said: "Let's work on that Magical Leaf. And maybe you can show me what Flutter can do, too."

"How long does one Gym match take?" Bruno leaned back against the tree trunk and gazed up into the leaves.

"This is for his sixth badge," Carla told him. "Winona's not going to battle him the same way she fought me." Shafts of sunlight fell from the sky and through the treetops, onto the two relaxing trainers below.

"Guess not. Hey," Bruno said, his tone changing, "Tally told you about Boing, didn't she?"

Carla nodded.

"Whatever you said to her...thanks. She was really upset when we met up; I guess seeing you made her forget for a bit."

Tally chose that moment to come and join them. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Gym battles," Carla replied. "I'm just glad we don't have to fight in front of an audience, like they do in Galar."

She couldn't begin to imagine what it must be like to face down some of the most powerful trainers in the region with spectators watching to see if you would win or lose, yet at the same time she admired the courage it would take to do that.

Maybe that was the point all along.

"Are you going to challenge any more Gyms, Carly?" Tally sat down on Bruno's other side and wrapped her arms around her knees.

"I might." If she had to.

The truth was, she might not have a choice. She had a team of five to train and take care of; unless she deliberately went to places where she could find strong trainers, the Gyms were probably her best option.

"Speaking of Gyms..." Bruno pointed towards a figure hurrying towards them. Dave came skidding to a halt just in front of the tree; his eyes were bright and his smile vibrant.

Carla jumped to her feet. "You did it?"

Beaming, Dave held out a Feather Badge.

The road to the Safari Zone took them several days. They passed many trainers on the way, many of whom were eager to battle. Although Dave was quick to accept most challenges, Carla was pleased to notice that whenever she battled she gained a lot more reward money than she usually did.

"Is that it?" Tally asked eagerly, pointing at a building constructed from steel and glass. On either side was a thick mass of trees and a solid metal fence.

"Yeah, that's the Safari Zone," Dave replied, wiping away a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Anyone else going in?"

Carla shook her head.

"You know," Bruno said thoughtfully, "I think I will. There's got to be lots of exotic pokémon in there, and I've been wanting to add someone new to my team."

"Good luck! Anything you're looking to get, Tally?"

"A Clamperl."

Now it was Dave's turn to shake his head. "You can't get them in the Safari Zone. They can't be caught with a rod and they live at a really low depth; Mum knows people who have asked about this."

Tally's face fell with disappointment.

"When we get to Lilycove, you could always hire a diver," Carla said to her. "They take people on trips underwater all the time; hiring one would probably cost as much as a session in the Safari Zone." Several lived in Mossdeep; they either escorted tourists on sightseeing trips or helped people get to Sootopolis City.

"How much is that?" asked Bruno cautiously.

"I don't know."

"It's not that much," Dave added. Carla had a feeling that what he considered not that much would be quite expensive for Bruno and Tally.

Tally nodded decisively. "All right - I'll wait until Lilycove. Good luck in the Safari Zone, Bruno."

As Bruno headed towards the building, Carla turned to Tally and said: "Do you want to work on some more moves while we're waiting?"

"Sure!" Tally eagerly took out all three of her pokéballs. "Can we train all of them?"

"What moves do they know?"

Once Carla had scanned all of Tally's capsules with her dex, she suggested Glossie practice her Psybeam with Rakel and then Zen Headbutt, Flutter her accuracy with Mud-Slap and Treble her strength with Wake-Up Slap. Fortunately, there were lots of rocks around that were perfect for target practice. Again, Layla acted as a moving target, but this time for Flutter.

"Why did you pick a Buneary?" Dave asked Carla after about twenty or thirty minutes.

"She chose me," Carla said, watching Layla do a sudden backflip to avoid being hit by Flutter's attack. "Layla helped win our third and fourth badge."

"Huh." Dave sounded thoughtful.

Carla looked at him sideways. "She's tougher than she looks."

"I'm not saying she isn't, but...As a friend, Carla, she's going to need an edge. Speed isn't going to be enough if she ends up fighting a really tough opponent."

Carla was about to protest that Layla didn't need an edge to be a strong pokémon - but maybe Dave had a point. An opponent might easily underestimate Layla, and they wouldn't see the 'edge' coming at all. "What did you have in mind?"

"Mum gave me this TM a while ago; she said it'd be useful, and it is. If you want, I could teach it to Layla."

Her first instinct was to say no. She didn't want to take advantage of people's kindness, didn't want to grow used to it and yet... "What's the TM?" she asked.

"It's called Secret Power. The best part is, it's not just an attack - you can use it to create a den when you need one. This guy called Aarune developed it, and Mum told me that the champion has used this move too."

It was another gift Ponyta.

"Tally, can we take a break for a moment?" Carla called.

"Sure!"

When the Mud-Slaps stopped, Layla hopped over towards her trainer. She was panting slightly and there were tiny specks of mud in her coat, which she busily groomed out.

"Do you want Dave to teach you a new move?" Carla asked her. "It'll give you a hidden advantage in battle."

Layla nodded, but when Dave took the TM out of his bag and held it out to her, she flinched back, her eyes nervous and wary.

"Hey, it's OK," Dave said soothingly. "This is what's going to help you learn Secret Power."

Layla seemed to be thinking. Then she took a step forward and allowed Dave to press the TV against her head. Immediately it started to glow; Layla quivered but held her ground until the glow faded. She shook herself and stepped towards Carla.

"Give it a moment to sink in," Dave told them.

"Hey!"

Bruno was hurrying out of the open doors to the Safari Zone, eagerly waving a pokéball in his right hand.

"What'd you get?" Tally asked as he reached them.

Bruno tossed the capsule into the air, releasing the creature inside. Carla saw two wide, staring eyes, a gaping mouth and two leaves set on either side of the pokémon's yellow body.

"Meet Vern," Bruno said proudly. "He's a Weepinbell."

Vern blinked twice.

"Congrats on the catch!" Dave said, shaking Bruno's hand. "Want to see Layla's new move?"

Carla cleared her throat. "Layla, use Secret Power on that tree!"

Layla braced herself, raised her tiny arms and pushed in the direction of the tree. Sharp leaves flew through the air, flashing different colours; some of them thudded into the trunk, others flew past it and into the grass.

The Buneary stared at her paws in astonishment.

Rakel was watching. When Carla caught her eye, she nodded in what looked like approval.

Lilycove City was just as beautiful, cold and windy as Carla expected. The scent of the sea grew stronger as they got closer to the Centre; the department store towered above the other buildings like a silver monolith. Street vendors sold hot food to eager tourists and trainers. There seemed to be just as many pokémon wandering around as there were people.

"You know, it's kind of ironic I caught a Weepinbell," Bruno said suddenly.

"Why?" asked Carla. "They're not exactly common in Hoenn."

"Yeah, but they are common in Kanto. I'm glad I did run into Vern, it just seems a little weird I caught him here and not back home."

Just as the Centre came into view, Dave asked: "How long are you going to be in Lilycove?"

"I don't know," Carla replied. "Maybe a couple of days. How long were you planning on staying?"

"I was just going to meet up with my sister and then head off to Mossdeep in the morning."

"We've been travelling for days," Tally pointed out. "Are you sure you don't want to stay and rest for a bit?"

Dave frowned for a moment, then laughed. "I guess we could do with a break. It's just...we've won six badges out of eight and we'll have to work really hard to win the last two. My dad said most trainers don't even make it past the fourth or fifth badge; Wallace is the last one before the Elite Four."

He shook his head. "It just didn't sink in until now."

Silence fell over the group.

"If you're only going to stay a short while," Carla said eventually, "we'll make the most of it, and have a good time." They were the only words she could think of.

"Sounds like a great idea."

The first thing Carla saw when they walked into the Centre was the way people were dressed. Instead of the mud-spattered, travel-stained clothes usually worn by trainers, they wore respectable trousers and shirts, skirts and dresses and smart-casual tops. Some were busily grooming their pokémon.

"We'd like to heal our teams, please," Dave told the nurse at the desk, "and to book two rooms."

"All right. I'm guessing you're not coordinators?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"There's a season of contests happening, so coordinators are our first priority when it comes to the rooms here in the Centre, so it'll have to be the spare trainer rooms. If you wanted to see a contest, I think there are tickets still available."

Tally's eyes lit up. "Do you know where I can hire a diver?"

"There's a list of schedules over there," the nurse said, pointing towards a piece of paper on the far wall. "Tours have set prices, but if it's a capture tip they charge twenty marks an hour."

Carla took the opportunity to ask: "Have you got any padded envelopes?"

Couriers delivered post from Lilycove to Mossdeep every day; Glennis could get the next payment within hours.

"Carla! Carla!"

Tally was breathless as she collapsed onto the bench next to her friend. "Do you want to meet him?"

"Sure." The capture hadn't taken long at all. "Has he met the rest of your team?"

"Of course he has!" Tally took a blue and white capsule out of her pocket and pressed the button, releasing the Clamperl into the open air. "This is Del. Del, this is Carla."

The pink pokémon blinked twice. He looked half-asleep.

"Sorry I couldn't think of a better name for you," Tally said apologetically to her new teammate. Del shifted around nonchalantly, as if to say he didn't mind one way or another.

Tally was going to have her work cut out training him. But as long as they were travelling together, Carla would make sure Del reached his potential - and he would have to, if he was going to evolve properly.

"Is Dave still with his sister?" Tally asked once Del was returned.

"I think so." The wind blew Carla's hair around her head; she was going to have to find a hairdresser soon. "And Bruno's still looking at the vitamins and minerals in the department store."

An idea suddenly struck her. "While were waiting, do you want to see the Contest Hall?"

"I'd love to!"

The Lilycove Contest Hall was larger and more ornate than the others in Hoenn. The polished floor reflected the spotlights and the people walking around; the air smelled of perfume, excitement and ambition. Carla decided to let Tess and Zoe see the place as well.

"Is it OK if we just have a look around?" Tally asked one of the security guards, who nodded.

"Just so long as you don't try and sneak into the performance hall."

The two girls walked up the purple steps and onto the landing. Gasps and cheers echoed from behind two massive blue doors; the cord in front of the doors was just as forbidding as if it had been a padlock.

"There's so much colour everywhere," Tally breathed. "Being a coordinator must be so much fun."

Carla was only half-listening to her. A door had opened in the middle of the landing; it was blended so seamlessly into the wall that it was almost impossible to tell the door was even there. A young woman in jeans and a red T-shirt emerged, quietly closing the door behind her

"Is that who I think it is?" Tally's voice was a hushed, awe-filled whisper.

"It's her."

Carla couldn't believe it. May Alexandra Maple, champion and saviour of Hoenn, was walking right past them.

"In third place..." a voice echoed from behind the doors.

"Let's get out of here before they finish."

They headed down the stairs. May was talking to the receptionist; the girls tried to leave as quietly as they could, but as they neared the doors, a voice said: "Wait."

May was staring at Tess and Zoe. She raised her eyes to meet Carla's. "You've battled my dad, haven't you?"

"How did you know that?"

"I called him after the match, and no offence, but there aren't many Vullaby in Hoenn." May walked towards them, her trainers squeaking on the floor. "The contest will be over in a minute - do you want to get an ice cream?"

Somehow, Carla and Tally found themselves following her to a tiny ice cream shop and waiting while May purchased cones for all three of them.

Is this happening? Tally mouthed.

Carla shrugged. She couldn't believe it either. Where was Dave? He should be here.

May came outside, carefully holding three ice creams. "You were the ginger," she said, handing one to Tally, "and you wanted the candyfloss."

Carla took her cone with a smile of thanks. She, Tally and May wandered away from the stall and down to the seafront, where the sun was just beginning to sink towards the waves.

"This is delicious!" Tally said after taking a lick of her ice cream. "I've never heard of candyfloss flavour before."

"Neither have I," Carla admitted. It was sweet without being sickly. On her lap, Tess chirped and nestled in close, her soft warmth a contrast to the chill emanated by Zoe at Carla's feet.

They sat down on a bench overlooking the sea. Waves lapping against the pebbles and sand nearly drowned out the sounds of people behind them. May sighed in contentment and leaned back against the bench.

"It's so peaceful out here," she said.

"Do you often come to Lilycove?" asked Tally.

"Sometimes, when I just want to get away. Things have been a bit hectic in the League lately; I needed some time to myself before meeting up with Brendan...and I haven't seen a contest for a while."

"Aren't you worried people will recognise you?" Carla wondered out loud.

May shook her head. "You'd be surprised how often people don't recognise me when I'm dressed like this. So what brought you guys to Lilycove?"

"We just wanted to see the city." Tally quickly rescued a drop of ice cream that was sliding down the cone. "Our friend Dave is going to Mossdeep to get his next badge and we're just hanging out before he leaves tomorrow."

She laughed. "I've seen so many places since I left home, and it's not even half of Hoenn."

"I know. There's so much to see, and that's just in this region. I hope you get to see all of it." May sounded much older than her twenty years, but Carla didn't blame her, not after what she'd seen and gone through. "Are you collecting badges as well?"

"I'm not, but Carla is." Tally frowned. "Will you challenge the Mossdeep Gym after Dave does, Carla?"

Carla shook her head. "I wasn't planning to - not at the moment."

"How come? It's a Psychic Gym; Tess and Rakel could easily win there."

"Yes, but Tate and Liza also fight as a pair. My team's never had a double battle."

May shifted to look at Carla properly. "Really? You've never fought in a double battle before? How many badges do you have?"

"Four."

May finished off her ice cream and wiped her hands on her jeans. "Do you want some tips?"

Tips from the champion herself? Nobody would turn that down. "Yes, please."

"When you're in a double battle, you need to take all four pokémon into consideration. The trick is to work out which of your opponent's pokémon is going to be easier to knock out and then target that one first - which is exactly what the other trainer will be doing."

Carla nodded. She needed to be subtle about that one, or her opponent would recognise her strategy.

"Some trainers will risk hurting their own pokémon if it means inflicting damage on their opponents." May laughed. "Sorry, I sounded like my dad just then! But seriously, that is a legitimate strategy in a double battle. Just make sure your pokémon don't accidentally hurt each other. That's happened to me a few times."

"What about getting your opponent's pokémon to hurt each other?" Carla asked.

May's eyebrows went up. "You could do that. It's ruthless, but it's not against the rules and it might work best against two trainers who aren't in sync with each other."

"Have you ever done that?" Immediately, the expression on Tally's face said she wished she hadn't asked the champion that question.

"Only when I had to." The smile faded a little from May's eyes.

There was a brief silence.

"So what was the contest like?" Carla asked casually. "It sounded amazing from what we could hear."

"It was beautiful. There was a lot of talent there; Lisia was really impressed." May's phone pinged sharply; she took it out of her bag, looked at it and smiled. "I'd better go. It was nice to meet you both, but I'd just like to say one thing to you, Carla. When my dad told me about your battle, he said he thought you might have potential; he's got good instincts for that."

The champion's ocean-blue eyes were solemn. "Don't let that potential or your pokémon's talents go to waste."

"I won't."

May got up from the bench. With one last smile at the girls, she walked away into the setting sun.

It was a while before Tally spoke again. "Do you think...we should tell Bruno and Dave about this?"

Carla thought about it for a second, gently running a hand over Tess' head. "No," she said eventually. "Let's keep this to ourselves."

In all honesty, this probably isn't my best chapter. I apologise for that.

This chapter's title comes from Never In A Million Years by Cara Dillon.

Hope you're enjoying the story so far!