Chapter 17: Waste Of Precious Breath

"I hope the sea stays this calm."

Carla wasn't just being polite. Using a pokémon to travel from Lilycove to Mossdeep could be difficult if it was windy or raining, and in other conditions it could be dangerous. Luckily, the sky above was a pale, flat grey and showed no signs of changing - yet.

Shiran was half-submered in the water, watching the small group of trainers on shore. Carla was glad the Swampert was large and strong enough to transport his trainer.

"I'll text you guys when we get to Mossdeep," Dave said, hugging Tally, "and when we win the badge."

"Don't take too long to get it!" Bruno laughed as he clasped hands with Dave.

Carla looked over at Shiran. Look after him, she mouthed.

Shiran nodded once.

"Hey, Carla?" Dave was facing her now. He hesitated briefly, then moved forward to hug her. "It was really good to see you, Carla."

"You too. Good luck." She squeezed him back once. "See you soon."

Dave got onto Shiran's back with practiced ease; with a bellow of joy, the Swampert launched himself through the waves with swift, powerful strokes. Dave looked back, waved once to the watchters, then turned back to the horizon.

Carla, Tally and Bruno watched as they got smaller and smaller.

"I wonder how long it'll take them to get to Mossdeep," Tally mused aloud.

"It's not that far away; they should get there soon. It depends on Shiran."

Carla wasn't sure why, but as she stared in the direction Dave and Shiran had gone, she felt a strange sense of loss come over her. She tried to push it away, but it refused to leave.

"What do we do now?" Tally asked, glancing between her two friends. She shivered as a breeze blew across the water.

"Hey, Carla, I've meaning to ask," Bruno said. "What's in those packages you keep sending off?"

Carla flinched, then closed her eyes. She should have known one of them would notice and bring it up. With a sigh, she opened her eyes and said: "Money. I'm sending money back to my sister."

"Why does she need it?" Bruno's eyes widened. "Wait. You said you were going to take a coordinating course, but you're challenging Gyms. Is is the prize money you're after?"

"Yes."

"What could your sister need it for so badly that you're..." As Tally spoke, her voice slowly trailed away into a murmur. "How badly does she need the money?"

There was a bench nearby. Without a word, Carla walked over and sat down, gazing out at the water. After a moment, Bruno and Tally sat either side of her and they listened to the waves on the shore.

"What happened, Carla?" Bruno asked quietly.

"Ten months ago, my sister met someone. It was obvious that she was - her clothes and hair were different and there was a light in her eyes. She kept looking at her phone and smiling when she thought no-one could see her. I thought she'd tell us about him when she was ready, but she didn't.

"One day, Dad found out. Maybe one of his colleagues saw Glennis with Will and told him about it, but he wanted to meet Glennis' mystery boyfriend, so he told her to invite him to dinner.

"It..." Carla paused, thinking of the right words to use. "It didn't go well. You know the kind of person who walks into the room and you just know they're going to be trouble? That was Will."

"He was a bad boy?" asked Tally.

Carla laughed bitterly. "When Will left, Dad told Glennis he didn't want her seeing him anymore, that that kind of person may look good in fiction but in real life they're more trouble than they're worth. Except Glennis didn't break up with him. Or she did and they got back together again."

"So...what does that have to do with you needing money?"

"I don't know what happened. I don't know if he was working for them or if he just stole from the wrong people, but one evening I was upstairs and I heard a strange voice. I thought she just had the TV on, so I decided to go and see what she was watching; I had just got to the top of the stairs when I heard her saying please don't hurt me."

Tally put her hand on Carla's arm. Carla swallowed, avoiding her friends' eyes.

"He was just standing there, in our kitchen. I don't know how he found her, but he was demanding to know where Will was. She didn't know, or wouldn't tell him. I should have gone back to my room and called the police, but...I just froze. Just stood there, listening.

"He said either Will gave the stones back or paid money for them. Then he said Glennis would have to pay back the money; he didn't care how he got it. He didn't give her a time limit but if she told the police or tried to run away, he'd come after me and Dad."

Then he and his Scyther had left the house.

"Wait."

Carla jumped. She hadn't realised she had said that last part out loud.

"A Scyther? You can't mean..." Tally was staring at her in disbelief. "You can't mean who I think you do."

"Who? Who are we talking about here?" Bruno looked from one girl to the other.

"He's part of Team Scythe. I think he's the reason the team even has its name," explained Carla. "He said Glennis had to give him twenty-one thousand dollars."

Bruno choked on air, and quickly cleared his throat. "Wow. Yeah, that's a lot. Breeders sell Eevee for that amount. But why you? If someone was going to become a trainer, why you and not her?"

"Because if Glennis had gone, they might have thought she was trying to run away. And besides, she's never shown any interest in pokémon. That's always been my thing."

No. Power had always been Carla's thing. Seeing that coordinator and his Ninetails on the screen that day had woken something in her, a hunger she'd never truly acknowledged until now. She hadn't wanted to become a coordinator herself because she loved performing or because she loved pokémon. It had always been about power.

Don't let that potential or your pokémon's talents go to waste.

Carla had made a promise to the champion of Hoenn. If she went back home after collecting the money Glennis needed, how would she be able to keep that promise? She was raising them as fighters, not performers.

"I've gathered about two-thirds of the money," she said. "After I've got all of it, I just hope he leaves us alone."

"Hey, look..." Bruno shifted around on the bench. "If you wanna talk about it again, you know where we are, right?"

Carla leaned back and gazed at the waves. They landed on the shore, then retreated peacefully back to the sea, sighing as they did so.

"Yes. I know where you are."

"Did you manage to see a contest?" When the teens shook their heads, the nurse said: "Oh, well, there's always next season."

"Too bad they only let you into the Ocean Palms if you took part in the season," grumbled her colleague. "I would have loved to attend a party like that."

"Well, earn yourself a couple of ribbons and I'm sure you will."

Once they were back in their shared room, Tally asked: "Want to watch TV or something?"

"Sure." Carla wasn't particularly in the mood for it, but she sat down on the bed next to Tally's and tried to focus on the screen. Yet, she couldn't. She wanted to get up and pace around the room.

The sensation didn't go away as the sky darkened. Just as the stars began to appear outside, Carla stood up, put on her hoodie and took the paralyser out of her bag. "I'm just going for a walk."

"Be careful," Tally said, glancing away from the TV. "I'll see you later."

It wasn't warm outside, but Carla didn't care. Some instinct told her to take Rakel out for safety's sake; they both kept a watchful eye on the shadows cast by the buildings. Lilycove City was just as busy in the evening as it was during the day; hopefully it wouldn't be so busy close to the water and away from the arcade.

She was lucky.

Carla walked by the cliff separating the land from the beach. She tuned her breathing to the waves as they crashed and receded. Dave would be in Mossdeep now; perhaps he and his team were resting in their room after a hard afternoon of training.

The wind whipped her hair around her head. She stopped for a moment to listen to the waves - and her eyes fell on a tall, elegant building with the words Ocean Palms Hotel emblazoned on it in gold.

Of course. After the end of contest season in Lilycove, a party was held for the participants in a different venue each year. This must be it.

A figure appeared at one of the windows: a girl in a pink ballgown. Carla was about to say to Rakel that it was time to head back when she saw the girl banging on the window, her mouth open in a scream.

Carla froze, staring in horror.

Just then, someone in black appeared behind the girl and dragged her away.

Carla quickly lowered herself to a crouch and slunk towards the hotel. She darted into the shadows and took out her phone. Her heart sank: there wasn't a lot of signal, and it would be hard to hear her over the phone since she was close to the sea.

She quickly sent a text to Bruno and Tally.

Somthing wrng Ocean Palms. Call plice or PTPL. C

That would have to do.

Rakel was watching her, waiting for orders.

"Stay close by, Rakel." They couldn't use the hotel entrance. Was there a back door used by the staff?

Hoping she wasn't making a terrible mistake, Carla closed her eyes and touched her pendant. Latias, be with us tonight.

She took out her scarf and tied it carefully around the lower half of her face.

They needed to keep to the shadows. Carla edged around the hotel, carefully avoiding the pools of light from the windows. She was barely able to make out a cluster of bins against the walls; just to the left of them was a door.

It was partially open. A tiny chink of light spilled onto the floor and up the side of one of the bins.

Was it really going to be as easy as that?

"Rakel, go through the door and see if there's anyone on the other side."

The Misdreavus nodded and drifted right into the hotel. Carla waited, heart in her throat, until she emerged again and shook her head.

"Thanks."

Carla put a hand on the door and slowly pushed it open. The interior of the hotel was dimly lit by lights tucked away between the walls and the ceiling; there was no noise at all, not even conversation from the hotel staff or the clatter of dishes from the kitchen, if it was close by. Carla took out the paralyser and held it tightly.

Rakel floated slightly ahead of her, red eyes darting from side to side.

"Why isn't it working?"

Carla and Rakel went still. At the end of the corridor was an open door.

They moved towards it in almost complete silence.

It was the CCTV room. On one side of the wall was a cluster of screens, all of which displayed the grey and white fuzz of static; occasionally, one of them would clear, revealing a blurred image. Someone was seated in a chair in front of them, hands behind the back of the chair; a man dressed in black angrily pointed at the screens.

"I don't know! They were working perfectly earlier!"

The man came around the back of the chair and bent, working at the prisoner's wrists. "Well, you'd better get it working before I..."

Carla moved forward and jabbed the paralyser into his back. He yelped and fell to the floor, convulsing helplessly.

The figure in the chair wriggled frantically against her bonds before finally freeing herself. "He's got spare restraints!"

Carla fumbled around in the man's pockets until she found them and quickly secured his wrists behind his back.

"Get the hell off me, you..."

She clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Here."

The prisoner was tugging at the man's boots; she pulled off one of his socks and used it to gag him. Then she started desperately rummaging in his pockets.

Just then, the static on the screens disappeared. Carla saw images of people in dresses and suits clustered together, surrounded by figures in dark clothing. Some of the dark figures were restraining the coordinators; Carla thought she recognised the girl in the pink dress. She was crying.

Rakel nudged Carla's shoulder.

"What is it?"

Raken nodded towards one of the screens; four of the gang members were collecting capsules and putting them in boxes.

That could make everything much easier.

"Oh my gosh, you're just a kid, aren't you?"

Carla would have glared at the woman if she hadn't been concentrating on the screen.

"Hey!" a second voice hissed. Carla spun around and saw four more figures in the doorway: two human, two pokémon. She nearly told Rakel to attack, but then realised who they were. Glossie was unmistakable, even in the half-light.

She went over to join them. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping you," Bruno replied, as if the answer was obvious. "Thought you might need it."

Hazel's yellow eyes glared at Carla reproachfully.

Carla decided against asking how Bruno and Tally had got balaclavas. "Thanks."

She motioned towards the prone figure on the floor; Bruno whispered something to Hazel, who flew over and hovered over the captive, her eyes glowing blue. Moments later, the man's head slumped to the floor.

"There are three of us and a lot of Scythe goons," Bruno pointed out.

"Actually, there are four of us."

The woman stood up, triumphantly holding two capsules in her hands. She released the pokémon inside: an Arcanine and a Houndoom. Their eyes and teeth reflected the glare of the screens.

"And I know where the spare keys are kept."

A thrill ran through Carla's blood. "Where are they?"

The guard checked their prisoner hadn't regained consciousness before hurrying towards the security desk; she reached under it and moments later, a hidden drawer shot out.

"Got them."

"What about the other staff?" asked Tally.

The guard shook her head. "Scythe won't be interested in their pokémon and anyway, they won't be trained for battle."

As one, they crept out of the room and towards the main part of the hotel.

Carla found herself addressing the others. "We need to subdue as many Scythe people as we can before they realise something's up." A mass battle in the hotel could harm not only the building, but innocent people as well.

"What if they've got something that can use Teleport?" Tally whispered.

"If they haven't, they're idiots."

Just ahead of them was a door; it was partially open, revealing a warm chink of light. Keeping a tight grip on her paralyser, Carla peered through the gap and saw the front desk of the hotel. She motioned to Rakel.

"Go through and see if anyone's there. Do not let them see you."

Rakel nodded, then vanished. She reappeared seconds later and nodded again.

"Are there pokémon out?"

A third nod.

Maybe they wouldn't have to do anything. It was only a matter of time before the police showed up - but by then, the stolen pokémon could be long gone.

"Leave this to us," Bruno whispered. "Hazel, get them."

"Rakel, use Mean Look."

Noiselessly, Hazel and Rakel glided into the lobby. Too late, Carla realised nobody had asked how many pokémon - and enemies - were there; she looked around the door just in time to see Holly approach two strangers in black and a Crobat. The Crobat saw them and opened its mouth, but then it tumbled to the ground, wings flapping helplessly.

Rakel darted through the chest of one of the strangers; as he collapsed, shivering, Holly quickly subdued the other with her Hypnosis.

"Have they got any restraints?" the guard asked as the small group hurried out of the corridor.

"I don't...Wait."

There were eight boxes on the desk, each with a number on it.

The guard rushed up to them, breathing heavily. "I'll bet you anything those numbers match room keys. There must be pokéballs in these."

"How far away are the rooms?"

"They're just up those stairs."

If they freed the coordinators and gave them their pokémon back, Team Scythe would be overwhelmed.

There was a slight whooshing sound from outside, followed by another and another. Everyone standing turned to look at the front door.

"Teleporters," breathed Tally.

"Go! Run!" The guard pushed Carla towards the corridor; Bruno and Tally quickly returned Hazel and Glossie, and the three trainers ran as fast as they could.

Behind you!

Carla whirled around and jabbed her paralyser into the stomach of the man right behind her. She watched, stunned, as he jolted and fell to the ground. Where had this one come from?

It took her a moment to realise Rakel wasn't the only one floating abover her. She looked up and her mouth fell open.

That was why the CCTV had been acting up?

The Rotom giggled, buzzed once and floated through the wall.

"Let's get out of here," Carla said. Where had Tally and Bruno gone?

Which way did she go from here?

Rakel floated down in front of her and closed her eyes for two seconds before opening them again.

Shouting came from the lobby, followed by angry and surprised yells.

Rakel came a little closer, looking right into her trainer's eyes, and repeated her action.

Do you trust her?

Yes.

Carla shut her eyes. Without warning, a terrible cold flooded her entire body and stole away her breath. Her eyes opened involuntarily, revealing a world tinged with shadow. She moved forward, unable to stop herself.

One moment, everything was black and there was a crushing pressure; the moment, she was outside, gasping in the night air as Rakel emerged from her chest. The Misdreavus waited for her trainer to recover.

"How...how did you do that?"

Shouts came from outside the front of Ocean Palms. Holding back a cough, Carla stumbled away from the hotel and down a back alley. Where were the others? Had they go away in time? Had they been caught?

"Hey." That was Bruno; she'd almost missed him in the dark. He and Tally had taken off their balaclavas. "You're OK."

"Do we need to get out of here again?" Tally asked fearfully.

"Yes," Carla forced out.

Bruno nodded. "OK, I'll check out what boats leave for Mossdeep in the..."

"No." Carla shook her head. "That's not enough. We need to go."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, where can we catch a boat that leaves Hoenn?" Carla asked. She shivered as a few drops of rain landed on her head.

"Carla, are you...are you crazy?" demanded Bruno. He looked around quickly before leaning forward and hissing: "You seriously want us to leave the region?"

"We hardly did anything!" protested Tally.

"People are going to investigate this; they're going to want to know what happened. Team Scythe are going to want to know what happened. This is the second time we've messed something up for them; do you think they're going to let that go? We might not be so lucky this time."

"She's got a point," Tally admitted after a moment of silence.

"Yeah, but we can't leave right now," Bruno said. "The people in charge of the rooms are gonna get suspicious if we leave in the middle of the night after something like this. What if we leave around six? First thing in the morning? The cargo boats will be getting ready around then."

"Sounds like a good idea." Tally grimaced as the rain sharpened into needles. "Let's go. But you might want to take that mask off before anyone sees you."

They started walking through the streets back to their room, all the while looking around to see if they were being followed.

Rakel kept watch, and Carla was thankful for her.

This chapter's title comes from I'm So Sorry by Imagine Dragons.

Spoiler: Carla gets her Water-type next chapter. You'll never guess what it is...

Hope you're enjoying the story so far! Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Better New Year.