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Late one evening, there is a loud sound that makes both Bennett and his mother poke their heads out of their rooms.
“What in the world was that?!” Bennett asks, bewildered.
“I don’t know, but it sounds like it came from the balcony,” his mother says.
They both walk over to the doors out, and she tries to open one… only to fail.
“That’s weird…” his mother says, brow furrowing. “Bennett, will you go check outside for what happened? I’m going to keep trying to open this.”
“Yes, Mother,” Bennett says.
He walks downstairs and starts over to the front doors… and halfway there, there’s a distinctive knock. He rushes to the door after hearing it, opening it and running through. “Luna?!”
“Uh…” the girl in front of him says.
“Oh, you’re not Luna,” Bennett says, disappointed.
In fact, she looks nothing like Luna. Her hair isn’t bright blonde but dark brown, and it goes down much farther than just past her shoulders. Her black and green clothes look like something Luna might call pretty, but not something she’d choose to wear herself— the style isn’t quite right, and Bennett doesn’t even think she has any green clothes aside from that one Brooch, and definitely not anything green and yellow, like that pendant. Even the way the girl stands is different from Luna, in a way he can’t quite explain, but is certain of.
The only thing this girl really has in common with Luna that Bennett can see is similar skin tones, and even then he’s pretty sure Luna is paler. And apparently they have semi similar knocks.
“Nope,” the girl says. “I’m Carly!”
“Well, excuse me, Carly, I was supposed to investigate the source of a loud noise,” Bennett explains.
Carly looks upwards. “It’s probably the PokéMart on your balcony.”
Bennett blinks. “The what?”
Carly moves out of the way so that he can get far enough away from the house to look up at the balcony. “…so it is. That would do it.”
He walks back to the door and calls out. “Mother, the PokéMart seems to have appeared on top of the house.”
“Say what?”
His mother comes outside and looks up. “…so it has. That explains why we couldn’t get the balcony door open.”
Then she turns to Carly. “Oh, you look familiar! We met at Obsidia Salon, didn’t we?”
“That’s right. I’m Carly! You’re Serra, right?” Carly asks. After Bennett’s mother nods, she continues. “It’s nice to meet you again, but, uh, I kinda really need to get to the PokéMart… like, really badly.”
“Unfortunately, I doubt that’s happening anytime soon,” Bennett’s mother says. “For now, why don’t you come inside? You too, Bennett.”
They all walk into the living room, and Carly looks to Bennett with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Bennett. Tell me something about yourself!”
“Well, greetings,” Bennett says with a smile of his own. “I’m a lepidopterist.”
“Oh, that’s, uh… someone who studies Bug Types, right?” Carly asks.
“The butterfly and moth subtypes specifically, but yes!” Bennett says, pleasantly surprised. “Something about how little insects can go from what they are to something so much more is just so exciting! For instance— did you know that Cascoon have perfect memories?”
“I did, actually!” Carly says. “Read it in a book when I was younger, plus I have a friend who knows a lot about Bug Types.”
“Despite never moving or doing anything, they’ll never forget a battle!” Bennett says excitedly. “Then, once they evolve, they’re remarkably able to exact any form of retaliation for what happened earlier in their life! When you think about it, they truly are small geniuses—”
“Bennett,” his mother says. “I think that’s enough.”
Ah. Right. Most people, especially strangers, don’t appreciate lengthy lepidopterology lectures. “…yes, Mother.”
But Carly shakes her head. “Hey, I don’t mind. Though it is kind of sad that Cascoon and Dustox get so hung up on payback…”
“Really? I think it’s inspiring!” Bennett says. “Anyway, I one day hope to be an authority on such magnificent creatures. Maybe even a Gym Leader!”
“Cool! The current Bug Leader is really good, but maybe you could be the Reserve Gym Leader, or go to another region?” Carly says.
Bennett considers it. He’s never thought about going abroad before.
“So, you were hoping to reach the PokéMart?” his mother asks.
“That’s right. I need some medicine for my friend. She’s really sick, but we’re not sure with what, so another friend suggested the, uh, Comfey Herbal Extract,” Carly says.
That’s not great. Because as Bennett’s mother explains, nobody really has control over the way things in town have been teleporting around over the last few days… well, aside from whoever’s causing it, presumably.
Bennett’s mother brings up that she’s a Gym Leader, which causes Bennett to bring up Luna, given that she’s also a Gym Leader. He asks if Carly has seen her, but unfortunately gets a negative response. His mother than explains to Carly who Luna is, and the circumstances.
And then, right after Bennett’s mother says that Luna’s parents aren’t just going to show up on their doorstep… one does.
Luna’s father is named El. He’s apparently a priest… and older than Bennett expected him to be.
He asks, of course, about Luna’s whereabouts. Bennett’s mother doesn’t know anything, and he himself pretends he doesn’t either, since Luna asked him to.
He’s not really sure why. But after telling him that she was heading to her (adoptive) father’s house, Luna asked Bennett to promise that he wouldn’t tell anyone who asked about it. So he won’t.
After a bit more talk, it is decided that Bennett’s mother and Carly will have a Gym Battle— although the latter warns that she will be gone the moment the PokéMart is, even if that means running off mid-battle— and El can watch. Carly leaves the house to go heal her team.
“I’ll guide you to the spectator area, then I’m going to wait in one of the Gym rooms. I like to challenge each of Mother’s challengers to a battle,” Bennett explains.
“Do you? I don’t suppose I could watch that, as well?” El asks.
“Well… I don’t see why not. Follow me,” Bennett says, before leading the way.
As they wait, he checks over his team, and their items, El watching.
Soon after Bennett is finished, the wall breaks, and Carly walks through. “Oh, hey Bennett, El.”
“Carly. You seem to be doing well,” Bennett says. He takes his Larvesta’s Net Ball in hand. “I’ll cut right to the chase. I would be much obliged if I could battle you. That is, I do request to battle with all of Mother’s challengers. As I hope to be a Gym Leader myself one day, is this not the most efficient way to prepare myself?”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Let’s do it!” Carly says. “Again, though, if the PokéMart disappears during this, I will legitimately just run off.”
“I understand. Thank you for allowing me to test myself against you!” Bennett says. He sends out his Pokémon.
Carly grabs a Poké Ball from her belt, sending out a Primarina. “Let’s go, Percy!”
The battle is probably the most interesting one Bennett has had in… well, in truth, he’s not sure how long!
Carly’s Pokémon are all very strong, and work well with their Trainer. Not that Bennett and his team are complete slouches— they manage to knock out a solid two thirds of her team, and do good damage to the other two. But she fights even harder, it seems, and soon Bennett sends out his last Pokémon, Butterfree.
“I see, I see… you are at a highly advanced stage of metamorphosis already!” he says.
“Ah, I wouldn’t say that, but thank you!” Carly says, before looking back to her Arcanine. “Use Flamethrower!”
“Butterfree, Quiver Dance!”
Perhaps predictably, by this point, Carly wins.
“Ah… well, it looks like I still have some adaptations to undergo myself…” Bennett says as both Trainers recall their Pokémon.
“Hey, don’t sell yourself short, that was a great battle!” Carly says.
“I agree. You were both quite impressive, young ones,” El says. “I believe you both have been gifted by Arceus’ light.”
Carly laughs lightly, shaking her head. “You’re just flattering me, really. Both of you are. I’ve still got a lot to learn, and I really am just some Trainer! No light here… I don’t think?”
“Personally, I don’t believe it’s any such ‘light,’ but instead diligence and commitment,” Bennett says, and Carly nods in agreement.
“And such diligence will indeed take you far,” El says. “But, Bennett, would you believe me if I told you that you were dreaming too small?”
“Too small, sir?” Bennett asks, confused.
It’s honestly a weird thing to hear. He’s more used to hearing people say he’s dreaming too big.
“Yes. You say you want to be a Gym Leader, but I believe that with your determination, you could even go so far as to join the Elite Four,” El says.
Bennett’s eyes widen in shock. “That— that would be… unthinkable! The Elite Four, really?”
“That would be so cool!” Carly says.
“It sounds fantastic, but—” Bennett says, slumping a bit. “As you can see, I still have a long way to go before I even have a chance…”
“Hey, everyone has to start somewhere!” Carly says. “And I think a longer, more difficult journey just makes a more impressive success story!”
“She is correct. And for someone of your dedication, I believe I may be able to be of service,” El says. “Let us leave your friend to her challenge. We will discuss the details elsewhere, and you may find yourself in a new position in time.”
“Do… do you really mean that?!” Bennett asks.
El nods. “I do.”
Bennett grins. “Then let’s go right away, Mr. El! Follow me!”
He turns back to the room’s exit and starts to leave.
“Uh, good luck, Bennett!” Carly says.
“Thank you!” Bennett says, as he walks past her and out of the room.
“So, then, what about my battling was it that makes you think I could be part of the Elite Four?” he asks.
There’s no answer, so he turns around. “Sir?”
After a few moments, El enters the room. “Apologies, I was just taking a moment to talk to Carly… quite observant, that one…”
“Well, she’ll probably be starting her battle with Mother soon, so let’s get going,” Bennett says.
El nods, and lets Bennett guide him to the spectator area.
“So, what is it about my battling that makes you think I could be part of the Elite Four?” Bennett asks again.
“I suppose it reminds me of my own,” El says. “Before I myself was in the Elite Four, that is.”
Bennett actually freezes at that, staring at El with wide eyes. “That’s— you’re—!?”
El smiles. “Indeed.”
It takes a moment for Bennett to remember to keep walking, he’s so shocked. A member of the Elite Four thinks he could be one, too? Maybe… maybe he really can do it, if that’s the case.
Soon, they reach the door to the spectator area and head inside. For some reason, El asks if the small room is soundproof. When told it’s not, he stays quiet until Bennett’s mother and Carly send out their Pokémon, Glaceon and Arcanine, respectively, and the battle has started.
“Now, if I am going to help you, I would request a few favors in turn,” El says.
“Of course! Just say the word!” Bennett says.
“I warn you, some of these tasks may be difficult,” El says. “My associates and I have been spread a bit thin lately, on account of… well, many of them complain specifically of a recurring headache, of sorts.”
“That doesn’t sound good. If so many of you are getting them, you should probably talk to a doctor,” Bennett suggests. “Oh, but of course I’m willing to help with whatever you need!”
El smiles. “It’s good to hear that you are committed… to…”
It’s not hard to see why he trails off. In fact, the thing that has caught his attention catches Bennett’s as well.
Carly beat his mother’s first two Pokémon quickly enough, her Arcanine beating Glaceon thanks to a critical Flamethrower— itself likely thanks to the Zoom Lens it has equipped— and her Ampharos beating Lapras with a Discharge that paralyzed and two rapidly fired Electro Balls. Bennett and El both saw this all, but it is not what caught their attention so thoroughly.
What did is the way Arcanine now runs around the field, firing off Flamethrower after Flamethrower. They’re not aimed at Bennett’s mother’s Pokémon directly, but instead at the mirrors, bouncing off before finding their final target.
Arcanine does take some hits, but nothing that takes it down. And after one of its own attacks hits it, it just seems to get stronger; Flash Fire, probably. Whatever the case, Bennett’s mother’s Pokémon go down quickly.
It is the quickest Gym Battle that Bennett has ever witnessed.
He stares in awe as his mother walks over to give Carly her Badge. “That… that was…”
“Bennett. Step outside with me for a moment,” El says, sounding serious.
“Um…? Yes, sir, I suppose,” Bennett says.
As they walk out, he wonders if Carly was able to use the field that well because of their own battle, or just naturally.
Once they get outside, El turns to Bennett, seeming just as serious as he sounded… and asks about Luna, saying he knows that Bennett wasn’t telling the truth before.
Maybe Bennett should’ve seen this coming. He’s never been a good liar.
He tells the truth. About both Luna’s whereabouts, and her Brooch. Yes, he promised her that he wouldn’t say where she went… but this is a special circumstance! El is offering him a place in the Elite Four! Surely she’ll understand!
The two of them leave immediately, discussing what studying to join the Elite Four will be like as they go.
Maybe, for once, Bennett will be able to do something big.
— — —
About a week later, Bennett stands in… well, he supposes the most fitting description would be a drug den. He is, on El’s— or rather, Elias’— request, waiting for Carly.
Apparently, the “recurring headache” Elias mentioned is actually her, and she has designs to stop them from helping Luna, under the guise of helping her herself— in fact, Carly apparently has already done this once today.
It’s a bit hard to believe. Carly seemed so nice. But Elias said that she might even try to manipulate Bennett, play him for a fool, in order to get her way. So they need to do something about her.
And soon enough, Carly walks into the area. “Oh, Bennett! I thought I saw you!”
“Of all people, I never expected to see you down here, Carly,” Bennett lies as she walks over. “Then again, I suppose this isn’t the sort of place someone like me would choose to be either.”
“I guess we’re both full of surprises!” Carly says. “Hey, have you seen Luna?”
“I have. In fact, I was just about to go back to where she is,” Bennett answers.
“Then could you take me to her? She really needs my help!” Carly says.
Ah. So it’s true, then.
“Well, if you want to help her as well, there should be no problem,” Bennett says.
“All right, thanks! Lead the way!” Carly says.
Bennett nods, and leads her out of the area.
“So, how’s your training going?” Carly asks as they walk.
“Oh, it’s going quite well!” Bennett says. “Elias has taught me a lot already. Oh, hang on, I need to move this.”
“I’ll help!” Carly says.
The two of them move the shipping container blocking the entrance to the inside of Beryl Wall together, and head inside.
“As I was saying, Elias has already taught me a lot,” Bennett continues. “Did you know that he himself is actually a part of the Elite Four?”
“I did, actually. A friend of mine told me,” Carly says.
“To think, an actual member of the Elite Four thinks I could be one, too…!” Bennett says.
Carly smiles. “Ha, you know, you remind me of… ah, never mind, it’s not really relevant.”
“Hang on,” Bennett says, pausing. “Do you mean to say that I remind you of someone that you know?”
“Well, actually… it’s myself you remind me of,” Carly admits.
Bennett blinks at that. “You?”
“Me! See, I’m from the Sinnoh region, and there’s a big Contest culture there. My mom’s been doing them for a long time. She’s a big deal! And growing up, I wanted to be just like her,” Carly says, smiling and sounding nostalgic. “Except… when I got a bit older, I realized that people had a tendency to fixate on who my mom is, and doing Contests would probably just make it worse. And even if I did the League there instead, people would still probably focus on my last name.”
Bennett stays quiet, listening.
“So, I decided to come here instead! There’s no Contests here, and the League is so notoriously difficult that, if I were to become Champion, nobody would ever think of me as just my mom’s daughter,” Carly continues. “I was a little unsure at first… but my mom told me she thinks I can do it. And like, I know she kind of has to say that. She’s my mom! But still, hearing that from someone like her makes me really think it’s possible!”
It’s silent for a moment.
“…I see…” Bennett says. “We should probably get going. Luna is waiting…”
Carly nods. “Right, let’s go!”
As they continue, Bennett thinks.
What Carly just told him is a familiar story. How many people have heard “Bennett Voclain” and immediately asked “Like Serra Voclain?” How many times has he overheard people talking about him specifically in relation to his mother? That he should be more grateful to her, or how they would’ve expected someone more like her, or that they could hardly believe he was her son?
But then… is Carly even being honest? She seems sincere, but Bennett has admittedly had trouble judging the character of others in the past. And Elias said she would try to manipulate him…
…even if what she said is true, though, she’s still trying to take advantage of him, isn’t she? She’s obviously not giving the full story of why she’s here.
He has to do this. For his place in the Elite Four, and for Luna. So he takes Carly to the sanctum.
“So, about Luna…” she says as he opens the door.
“Let’s just hurry and get to her for now,” Bennett says.
“Um, okay…” Carly says.
Bennett guides her inside. And soon Elias and the others surround her. She looks around, shocked.
“Sorry about this, Carly,” Bennett says. “That is, Elias actually asked me to let you in here.”
“Oh…” Carly says, clearly disappointed.
“You thought I was doing something dumb, didn’t you? It figures,” Bennett says bitterly, looking away from her. “Most people don’t seem to think very highly of me. Which, I suppose, is typical of a person who prefers the company of bugs to that of people.”
“Bennett, I never thought…” Carly says. “I didn’t mean…”
Bennett shakes his head. “Ah, please do not mistake my standoffishness, shall we say, for any personal disdain. I am merely doing what is best for my future, and for Luna.”
After all, can it really be called personal when it’s something of a regular occurrence?
“But Luna doesn’t want this!” Carly says.
“That doesn’t mean it’s not what’s best for her,” Bennett counters.
“Who cares? You’re treating her like a little kid, she should be allowed to do what she wants!” Carly says.
“She may not be a child by the laws of this city— and even then, not by much— but she is acting like one. She needs this,” Elias says. “And so you have done well, Bennett. Continue your diligence, and I will surely secure a position in the Elite Four for you.”
Carly is obviously angry at Elias’ words, but Bennett nods. “Of course. Thank you, sir.”
Elias nods back, then addresses Carly. “Although I originally intended only to ask his help in finding Luna, Bennett has proven a surprisingly useful assistant.”
“So you’re using him,” Carly says.
Using him? What a ridiculous suggestion. They only want to help Luna together. Elias said before, and confirms again when Bennett asks, that this ceremony will be good for her. It will only help her, and if she says otherwise, it is just a sign she needs the help.
So Bennett soon takes Carly away so that she can’t interfere.
“…you don’t have to do this,” she says as they walk.
“Of course I do. It’s what’s best for everyone… except for you, I suppose. Sorry,” Bennett says.
Carly looks away, brow furrowing.
Bennett soon hands her off to a pair of acolytes. As they walk away, each of Carly’s arms in a firm grip, she looks back at him with a frown. “You can be better than this, Bennett.”
Once they’re gone, he stands there for a moment, conflicted. Was that more manipulation?
He shakes his head and walks off to continue helping Elias. It doesn’t matter if it was manipulation or not, because it’s true, even if not in the way Carly meant it.
Bennett is going to a member of the Elite Four.
— — —
The next day, Bennett traverses through Iolia Valley.
So the ceremony didn’t go… well. In any sense of the word. And he fears that maybe Luna was left with the wrong impression of his intentions and feelings, especially if she believes what Gardevoir said. So he has to apologize, and hopefully even… well, hopefully he can set the record straight about how he feels.
He exits a cave back into where he entered the valley and finds Carly with a Pangoro, at the bottom of a small cliff. She looks up, surprised. “Bennett? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to talk to Luna, of course. I was actually following you, but managed to lose your track,” Bennett says.
“Um… I don’t think you talking to Luna is a good idea…” Carly says, twirling some hair with her finger.
“I understand why you think that, but don’t worry, I came of my own accord, not because Elias asked me to,” Bennett says. “I realize that what happened with Luna was wrong, but we really do only want what’s best for her. Anyway, I’ve decided to let that go.”
“Bennett, I don’t think you’re getting it…” Carly says. “You helped to do something that really upset her, so—”
“Oh, I know,” Bennett interrupts. “That’s why I’m here, to apologize to her. And—”
He glances away, blushing. “Well, never mind. This doesn’t concern you anymore, so I would appreciate it if you let me and her alone. Good bye.”
“Bennett, you— hey, wait!”
But he doesn’t wait, heading off to see if he can find a way through the valley himself.
What he finds instead is a lot of dead ends. And, after a while, he finds Carly and her Pangoro at one of them, the former picking something up. They turn at the sound of his footsteps.
“Bennett… it’s good that you’re sorry, but have you considered that maybe Luna doesn’t… want to see you?” Carly asks.
“What? Of course she’ll want to see me,” Bennett says. “Like I said, I’m aware she’s upset, but that’s exactly why I need to apologize. And I have known her for quite a while longer than you have, so I think I know her better than you do.”
Carly shares a look with her Pokémon. “I mean, I guess, but…”
“Carly, what transpires next is between myself and her solely. Please stay out of it. Will you let me do what I need to do?” Bennett asks.
Carly thinks for a few moments. “…how about we go through the rest of the valley together?”
Bennett frowns. “I told you, this is between me and Luna. I have to do this alone.”
“But you can’t,” Carly says, before holding up a small object that appears to be made of four crystals in an X formation. “Luna’s Gym puzzle involves using these to get through the valley. So unless you have your own, you’re gonna need my help to get through.”
Oh. That’s unfortunate.
Bennett briefly wonders if this is a manipulation tactic of some sort, but he can’t think of a reason it would be. So after a bit of mulling it over, he nods. “All right. Lead the way.”
Carly smiles. “Okay, let’s see…”
She walks past him and up to a large purple crystal on the ground. She holds the object out to it, and suddenly she’s gone… or at the very least, there’s a wall between her and Bennett… and her Pangoro.
“Um,” Bennett says.
Pangoro huffs.
Then the wall disappears, and Carly is looking at them with an excited expression. “Did you see that?! Holy shit, that was incredible!”
“It was,” Bennett agrees. “But I suppose we should probably get closer before you do it again.”
Carly nods, and motions for Bennett and her Pokémon to come closer. Once they have, she activates the crystal again, and the cave’s entire layout changes.
“That’s just… Arceus, that’s amazing!” Carly says. Her Pangoro lets out a sound in agreement.
Bennett nods. “Let’s get going then.”
The three of them make their way through the valley, Pangoro occasionally breaking through green crystals or red cave walls.
Occasionally, Carly asks some kind of question. The first one is “So, uh… how are you feeling?” but the rest are related to the valley. “Aren’t these caves so interesting looking?” or “Doesn’t the air out here feel so nice?” or “What do you think makes these crystals react like this?” Each time, Bennett gives a brief answer before politely requesting she refocus on the task at hand.
Eventually they reach what they both agree is obviously the end, and Pangoro makes an opening. Bennett moves to enter, but Carly holds up a hand.
“Hang on. Luna’s expecting me, not you,” she says quietly. “If she sees you without any warning, she might think you’re here on Elias’ orders and get freaked out. So let me go in first and tell her you’re here. Then you two can have your chat, okay?”
Bennett really doesn’t like the idea— he wants to talk to Luna immediately. But unfortunately, Carly does have a point, so…
“…I suppose that’s not unreasonable,” he says, also quiet. “Just be quick.”
“Great! Just gimme a minute!” Carly says. She heads in, her Pokémon following.
Bennett waits… but it doesn’t take long for him to start getting anxious. It’s only been a minute, but how long does “Bennett wants to apologize” take to say?
And the idea pops into his head that this may be a trick. Maybe this isn’t actually the end, and Carly intends to leave him in the dust. Or maybe she’s even lying to Luna about why he’s here. He doesn’t want to think Carly would do that, but…
He can’t take it anymore. He walks in.
Luna and Carly are there, to his relief, chatting while Pangoro stares at the nearby monitor.
“Yeah, it’s really pretty!” Carly says. “But, um, there was something I—”
Before she can finish, Luna looks past her and tenses up. “Bennett? How can this be?”
Carly whirls around, and her Pangoro’s head shoots up, as Luna backs up. Bennett ignores the former two to approach the latter, walking around Carly.
“Bennett, I told you to wait outside,” she says.
“You were taking too long,” Bennett explains before focusing completely on Luna. “I want to apologize, Luna.”
He steps closer, but Luna backs up for some reason. “There is no need to apologize. I hold nothing against you. Now please, if you will, leave us be? We do have business, after all.”
“Bennett, you’re—”
“No, Luna— you don’t understand,” Bennett says, shaking his head. “I just, I want what’s best for you, and I was really confused and—”
“Bennett, it is quite all right,” Luna says, as sweet as always. “You need not say any more.”
“Bennett—”
“No, I—” Bennett says.
This is it.
This is the moment.
“Luna, I love you!”
Luna backs up again, and… why is she looking at him like that? “I beg your pardon?”
“That’s it!”
Suddenly the back of Bennett’s shirt is grabbed, and he’s pulled back hard enough to make him stumble.
“Go. I’ll deal with him.”
“Thank you…”
When Bennett regains his balance, Luna is gone, and he’s alone with an upset looking Carly and her also upset looking Pokémon, who has moved to stand by its Trainer’s side.
“Why did you do that?!” Bennett asks, completely bewildered.
“Are you kidding me?” Carly asks. “Bennett, you were upsetting her!”
“No, I wasn’t!” Bennett says.
“Were you looking at or listening to her!?” Carly asks.
What a dumb question. Of course he was! And Luna’s expression was… a bit odd, he’ll admit, but she said it was okay!
…but then, why did she leave?
“I shouldn’t have brought you here…” Carly says. “You need to go, Bennett.”
“And what if I refuse?” Bennett asks, agitated.
“Then we’ll make you leave,” Carly says, and her Pangoro lets out a sound of agreement.
Fine. Bennett grabs a Net Ball— usually he’d start with Larvesta, but since Carly is starting with Pangoro, he goes with Scyther.
He’s confident he can win. Sure, it hasn’t been that long since his first battle with Carly, but he’s been training hard under an Elite Four member. So he’ll win this time, take that crystal thing from her, and use it on that purple crystal in the back of the room so he can finish his confession and get Luna’s answer.
…but that’s not quite how it goes.
He only manages to knock out half of her team. And her Pokémon hit hard, her Ampharos alone managing to knock out half of his own team with Power Gem.
Bennett is baffled. How did he do worse than last time?
Is it because the field gives Carly’s Pokémon an advantage? No, that doesn’t seem quite right, as while some of her team’s moves did seem to be powered up by it, so did some of his.
Is it because he’s unused to the field? Maybe. Sure, Carly doesn’t know the field either, but last time they fought it was on a field Bennett knew like the back of his hand.
Is it because he can’t stop wondering why Luna left?
Or is it because… Carly is just better than him?
…whatever it is, she wins, and they both recall their Pokémon.
“Leave,” Carly says. “I need to go apologize to Luna— an actual apology.”
…fine. Bennett may have been a fool today, but he’ll go back to Elias and keep training. Become a member of the Elite Four. And as he leaves, he makes a vow. “I promise, next time you see me, things will be different.”
“I sincerely hope so, Bennett,” Carly says.
He leaves, humiliated and angry.
…but he’s not that much of a fool. He can try to rationalize it all he wants, but at the end of the day, he knows that Luna wouldn’t have left like that if she felt the same. If she accepted that he only wanted what was best for her. Well, maybe she’ll change her tune when he’s part of the Elite Four, but it’ll be too late by then!
And as for Carly… Bennett wonders if her goal was to embarrass him all along. If she only brought him along to make a fool of him. Either way, she’ll pay, eventually.
Maybe this is just how girls are. Nice at first glance, only to humiliate and avoid someone and talk about them behind their back the moment they make a few mistakes.
Luna, Carly, even others like his mother’s Gym Trainers… they’ll all regret it.
— — —
Around a month later, Bennett walks through the halls of a building in Labradorra City.
The room he’s heading to was a break room before the city’s takeover. Team Meteor— which Bennett is an associate of— mostly uses it for food, drinks, and the occasional meeting… so he guesses it’s pretty much still a break room.
Earlier, Elias asked Bennett to meet him there. For something important, he said.
He’s taught Bennett a lot. About battling, of course, but also about things like cooking and cleaning, things he had little to no experience with before. So he supposes he can help with Team Meteor in turn, even if he’s not thrilled about it.
“He’s so fucking annoying!”
That makes Bennett pause just before he turns a corner. From the sound of it, the voice— a man’s— came from his destination.
“I know,” a second male voice says. “He just goes on and on and on! Like, I get it, we all hate Carly, but can’t he talk about something else aside from how much she sucks or how great he is?”
“He talks such a big game,” the first voice says. “But to be honest? I have my doubts he’s even actually beat her. I asked, once, and he changed the subject.”
“So if he can’t beat Carly, what makes him so special?” the second man wonders. “I mean, I know he’s related to a Gym Leader. But some of the others are actual Gym Leaders, or former ones, or even an Elite Four member, so that’s, like… basically nothing.”
“Just like his skill level,” a third male voice jokes, and they all laugh. “Seriously though? Fern will believe you if you tell him you have something to do, and you don’t even have to tell him what, so just take full advantage of that and avoid him.”
“Speaking of having something to do, we should probably get back to work,” the first voice says.
The other two agree, and soon three sets of footsteps leave the room and walk off, thankfully in the opposite direction of where Bennett is.
So they were talking about that Fern boy, huh? For a moment, Bennett thought…
He shakes his head and walks to the break room.
Elias isn’t around, but it seems he has been, recently, as there’s a book on the table that appears to be a religious text. As Bennett sits down, he looks it over a bit.
Now that he thinks about it, he hasn’t actually read any of this stuff, has he? He’s not a believer, but… well, he might as well read a bit. Just to know more about what the group he’s associating with believes in. So he picks up the book and opens it. Flips to a random page.
And what he finds surprises him. It’s a story about the importance of loving and accepting the people around oneself.
That… doesn’t exactly match up with Team Meteor’s actions.
Is this just a one off thing, then? He’s curious, but before he can find out, Elias walks into the room, so Bennett puts the book down.
“Apologies, I was called away for a moment,” Elias says as he sits down.
“What did you want to talk about, sir?” Bennett asks.
“It’s about an open position in the Elite Four,” Elias says. “Or rather, one that will be soon.”
— — —
Months later, Bennett is put in charge at the Glass Workstation base.
He is a very different person than he was before. It did not by any means happen overnight, but more slowly, over time. He has changed, and so have his views on many things. Including Team Meteor.
If he is to be honest, he doesn’t believe in their cause, or even respect them. They’re hypocrites at their best. Mass murderers at their worst. And yet for now, at least, he must continue to associate with them. Pay his dues. Because they have truly done a lot for him, even if not all of it was completely purposeful.
One thing that was, however, was getting him into the Elite Four. The method through which this was made possible is the nearby PULSE Hypno. The victim of the scheme sleeps nearby.
It feels a bit weird for Bennett to look at her. Maybe this is because he knows her.
Or maybe that’s not quite accurate. They’re not friends, or even really acquaintances.
But he remembers that, a short time before the day he left home, he went grocery shopping, and the young woman, Laura, was there too.
They didn’t even say anything to each other, but she had had a nice floral scent he’d been able to smell as they passed by each other.
She also had that scent when she was first kidnapped. It’s been more than long enough since then for it to fade, though.
Bennett hadn’t even known that Laura was a member of the Elite Four back in Spinel Town. But now she’s not, and he is, and that feels… weird.
He thought he would be prouder of himself. He would be lying if he said he felt no pride, but he thought there would be more. And less of these other feelings. The ones that make it hard to look at Laura’s sleeping face for too long.
A radio nearby crackles, and someone reports that two people are approaching the building. One is the Rock Type Gym Leader, Hardy, but the other, more notable person is Carly.
Zero seems both pleased and angered to hear she’s coming, and Bennett has to tell him that he will not be the one to greet her. With the way he’s been acting lately, Bennett is actually a bit scared he would just try and kill her. And while Bennett may not like Carly, he has no desire to see her dead.
Carly and Hardy enter the building soon enough, acting just as predicted, so Bennett goes to meet them. He makes a “moth to the flame” analogy, and then gives a brief lecture on why that phrase is actually nonsense, given that moth Pokémon don’t actually seek out the light, but try to flee it, right under its nose. They are thus destroyed by it in an ironic and tragic manner.
“But I suppose that means it suits you perfectly after all,” Bennett says as he enters the elevator. “Doesn’t it, Carly?”
Carly’s eyebrows actually shoot up at the sight of him. It’s no surprise, really, with how different he looks from their last meeting.
“Oi, I didn’t come here for a biology lesson, mate,” Hardy says.
Bennett rolls his eyes. “That would be ethology, ‘mate.’ But that’s just as well; I suspect such lessons would be lost on you anyhow.”
He steps further into the elevator, and looks to Carly. “Carly, you…”
He was going to say that she seems well, but on closer inspection… she actually really doesn’t. There are bags under her green eyes, which themself are bright in hue, but otherwise noticeably dull. She slouches a bit, which he’s pretty sure she wasn’t doing when they last met. And overall, she just has an air of tiredness about her.
So he clears his throat. “I would like to apologize for my temperament when we last met; that was beyond disgraceful.”
“Oh. So then… well, it’s good that you’ve realized that. It’s not great that you’re still with Meteor, though,” Carly says.
“I only associate with them because they have helped me to make good on my prior promise,” Bennett explains. “You remember, right? What I promised?”
“That things would be different next time we saw each other. Which they clearly are, in more ways then one. I like the outfit, actually,” Carly says.
Huh. Not what he would’ve expected her to say.
“That you remember is at once a source of pain and panacea, but I respect your acknowledgment, and appreciate the compliment,” Bennett says.
“How about we ‘acknowledge’ how you did it?” Carly asks, crossing her arms. “I’ve put a good amount of the pieces together already. Laura got fired… except my friend also showed me an official letter of resignation she apparently wrote. Am I correct in assuming that you and Meteor were behind that? That you forced her out to take her place?”
Bennett glances away for a moment. “You might be.”
Carly shakes her head. “You may be good enough for the Elite Four— you wouldn’t have gotten in otherwise. I’ll acknowledge that. But you cheated your way in all the same. Does that feel as good as you hoped?”
Bennett doesn’t like that question. Doesn’t really want to answer it. So he waves it off. “Never mind that.”
He looks to Carly’s wrists, but doesn’t see the Sapphire Bracelets. Her pockets clearly don’t have anything big enough to be them inside, either. So according to what Lin said, they’re probably in her bag. And he’s here to pay his dues, not question the information he’s been given.
“So, uh… you know this tool, Carly?” Hardy asks.
Bennett shakes his head, standing up straighter. “No. Carly does not know me. Not even I knew myself back then.”
“I wanted to, but he was more focused on other things,” Carly says.
Bennett frowns, and looks at Hardy. “Regardless, I would appreciate not being called a tool by someone who has only been able to follow the most predictable set of actions.”
Hardy blinks. “So, then…”
“Enlighten us on what you mean,” Carly says.
“What, break the glass to get into a place? Don’t make me sick; it’s like my mother’s Gym all over again,” Bennett says. “But of course any dolt with a heavyweight Pokémon is going to try that.”
“Okay, so why did only the one break? What kept the others in tact?” Carly asks.
“Gossamer silk from an Ariados’ web— not that you could have noticed,” Bennett explains. “With that covering all but a single spot, there’s only one entrance an intruding party would use. And with that, we can be sure where any intruders will end up.”
“Huh. So you were right, then, Carly,” Hardy says.
“…what?” Bennett asks, taken aback.
“Please. Hardy’s Gigalith didn’t even manage to make a single crack in the glass, except in one place that just so happened to both be big enough for us to get through, and in just the right spot for us to get into this elevator,” Carly recounts. “We knew it was a trap. Of course we knew! Hell, we knew before we even came up here! A bunch of our friends disappearing like they have isn’t exactly subtle.
“I’m sure you’ve been through a lot since the last time we saw each other. But so have I, and so by now, unlike a moth, I known damn well when I’m flying too close to the light. But the thing about me is that I don’t care. I’ll hurl myself into the flame, if it’s for the sake of pulling others out of it.”
“That’s right!” Hardy says, taking a Poké Ball in hand.
But Bennett doesn’t stick around long enough for a battle to even start. He’s learned not to pick fights he can’t win by now, and even aside from that, he does not feel like being around Carly after that. So he leaves them both to sleep.
As much as Bennett has changed, he finds that his feelings on Carly are still quite similar. Not because she is manipulative, and not because she is a woman (a thought he cringes to look back on), but because she is just… frustrating to an incredible degree.
People like her just aren’t supposed to exist. People with win streaks long enough to cover the entire region. Who triumphantly break out of traps often enough that they get into the habit of flinging themself into them. Who can grab the attention of an entire organization of people just by being mentioned.
People like that are only supposed to exist in fiction, or even just hypotheticals. A worst case scenario that one prepares for, but can reasonably expect to never actually have to deal with.
And what right does she even have, to be that way? From what he has heard, she just showed up and started making trouble for Team Meteor. She was on a train that they bombed, sure, but she apparently walked away from it well off enough that she was able to start fighting them less than a full day later.
So what makes Carly so… so privileged?
Whatever it is, Bennett’s more than happy to get away from her. To go back to the atrium, and start preparing as Lin instructed him to.
The instructions are admittedly a bit odd. They involve getting two of the captives, Cain and Shelly, ready to fight under the PULSE’s control.
It occurs to Bennett partway through that maybe these instructions were conditional, and meant specifically for if Carly evaded the sleeping spell somehow. And then it occurs to him that there is a good chance that she will somehow do that anyway, so he keeps going.
Once that’s finished up, another report comes in over the radio. Another small group has been spotted approaching, this one even more notable to him, personally.
And not long after that, Carly does in fact run into the atrium, along with the Glaceon and Espeon that have been causing trouble. Birds of a feather, perhaps.
The Pokémon are only there for a few moments before running off into another room, but it’s enough to set Zero off. He tries to call out for them, but quickly switches to asking if Carly is here to ruin everything again, which seems like a question with an obvious answer.
Carly flinches, and stutters out an apology, but that just sets Zero off more, and soon Bennett sees it fit to step in.
“I think that’s enough, Zero,” he says before turning his attention to Carly. “I could commend you on getting here once again despite the sleep effect, but that’s hardly necessary. After all, you’ve never really known failure, have you?”
Carly frowns up at him. “What are you talking about? Of course I have!”
But Bennett shakes his head. “Maybe— maybe— you lose a battle or two. But that’s not failure. That’s just a set back. You always end up on top. And why? Is it your determination? Or is justice on your side? Or maybe it’s just the bond you have with your Pokémon and friends.
“But all of those things are just cliches to handwave the fact that in this world, some people are given the privilege to succeed and some are not. I am fortunate enough to have come into that privilege after having been denied it for years. But you… this is just how you’ve always been, ever since you got to Reborn, isn’t it? To—”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Bennett is actually shocked into freezing for a moment by that. “Excuse me?”
“I said, shut the fuck up!” Carly repeats.
She’s trembling, eyes blazing with anger, and… is Bennett imagining things, or is she tearing up?
“Privilege? You think I’m fucking privileged?” Carly asks, incredulous. “That you know me? Well, news flash, Bennett! We’ve only met three times before this, and I only ever actually talked about myself once! And you didn’t really even ask, I did it because I thought we could connect and decided to share a bit about myself on my own!
“Sure, sure, you’ve probably heard a lot about me, in the time in between, through the terrorist organization you’ve decided to become a lap dog for in exchange for helping you cheat your way into the Elite Four, but guess what! Team Meteor doesn’t know me either! All they know is the me who stands up to them, the me they fucking hate, the me who they see as some sort of machine they just expect to beat them by now!
“And I’m sure, with a view like that, you would think I’m privileged. ‘Oh no, Carly beat my Pokémon! Carly got in the way of my kidnapping attempt! Carly stopped me from killing several people! It must be because she’s the most privileged pretty princess in the Reborn region! It can’t be because of any of my own failings! It can’t be because I did something wrong! It must just be because she does everything right!’ Well, guess what!? I DON’T!
“Is it privilege, to have to go to an entirely new region on the other side of the world because the people in your own can’t even look at you without immediately thinking of your mom? Is it privilege, to watch several people die because you weren’t fast or smart or strong or close enough to stop them from jumping off of a bridge, or keep a Pokémon from decapitating them, or something else equally horrifying? Is it privilege, to come to care about someone in a way you never thought you’d get to, only to feel his body go cold in your arms!? Which of those sounds like FUCKING PRIVILEGE to you, Bennett!?”
As Carly stands there, panting a bit and with tears streaming down her face, Bennett stares in shock.
“That’s… I…” he mutters, unsure.
“…actually, I guess I do have one privilege you don’t, Bennett,” Carly says lowly, glaring up at him. “I can say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if I called my mom right now and told her everything I’ve done over these past months, she’d be proud of me.”
Bennett flinches at that. Turns away. “…Zero, it’s time for a reunion.”
Cain and Shelly are called out, ready to battle. Bennett was going to say more, but suddenly he’s not in the mood to. “Just fall, already.”
As the fight starts, Bennett chooses to focus on a handheld device that he picks up from the nearby table. Eve made it, sometime before her demise. It’s connected to the PULSE, and monitors a few vital signs of those under its control.
It’s nothing too in depth, but given how those under hypnosis act— or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, don’t act— it’s the best way to make sure they don’t, say, get a heart attack or some such.
Zero had apparently complained the whole time his body had been used to make it, but Bennett is glad to have it. He isn’t looking to kill anyone… despite what his affiliations might suggest.
But there’s only so long he can stare at two regular sets of vitals before he starts to think about what Carly said. His first instinct is to get angry over her anger, and deny her words. To desperately grasp for some sort of proof that she is just like he thought she was. But…
He is eventually forced to acknowledge that she has a point. He doesn’t know her. He’s only met her a few times, and most of his information on her comes from a group of people who hate her, and so cannot be trusted to paint her in an accurate light.
Why has he even let them color his perception of her so much, anyway? He doesn’t even like or respect Team Meteor. He knows they are willing to lie to get their way. And yet he has accepted so much of what they have said about her as fact.
…perhaps it is because Bennett wanted to. He wanted someone to work against, someone to think of as the enemy that he would prove wrong. And Carly was an easy target for that, someone he was already frustrated with, a frustration that was easy to reinforce when he was surrounded by people who hate her.
But the Carly he has built up in his mind isn’t actually accurate to life. He convinced himself that she was someone who hated him, and would be glad to see him fail. But that was never true, was it?
She had been nice to him. She had encouraged him in his ambitions to grow stronger, believed he could do the right thing, and had tried to talk with him as they made their way through Iolia Valley together. She had even responded to his vow to make things different with a sincere wish that he actually would, if not in the way he was thinking of.
What she had said earlier in the elevator was correct; Carly had tried, but Bennett hadn’t.
Even when it came to the things she had done that upset him, he cannot truthfully say that she was wrong to do them.
Her claim that Elias was using him had been correct, even if he used the man back. She had been the one actually helping Luna at the sanctum, and had been correct that Bennett’s apology— if it could even be called that— had just upset her. And just because Carly’s strength frustrates him, it doesn’t mean she’s wrong to have it. She probably worked just as hard for it as he did his own.
And… Carly was especially right about his mother. That’s why he hasn’t even called her since leaving home. Because she’d be upset to learn what he’s been up to. What mother would be happy, to hear their child has joined Team Meteor? And he can call himself an “associate” of them all he wants, but in reality he really is a member in all but his personal beliefs.
But it’s not like he can just leave. Team Meteor doesn’t take kindly to deserters, so he’d have to fall off the grid entirely, which is impossible for a member of the Elite Four to do. So he’ll just pay his dues and keep following orders.
Certainly predictably, by this point, Carly wins her fight.
But that’s okay. Shelly is let go from the hypnosis, and stumbles forward before they put her to sleep. Carly catches her, and then is put under hypnosis herself.
Bennett’s not sure why they didn’t just do this in the first place, but Lin told him to have Carly’s friends fight her first, and he’s just following orders.
So he has Carly place the girl down on the ground, and sends out Volcarona to retrieve the Sapphire Bracelets. But before his Pokémon can fly down, Zero commands Carly to heal her Pokémon.
“Why are you having her do that?” Bennett asks.
“It’s best to keep her team in tip top shape, just in case we need her to fight anyone!” Zero claims. “Aren’t those others coming?”
“Yes, but I don’t really see the point, given that we can just put them to sleep,” Bennett says.
“Well, it’s smart to be prepared for worst case scenarios,” Zero says.
Bennett has a feeling that that’s not quite all, but doesn’t question further. He sends down Volcarona and has Carly hand over the Bracelets. Just as she does, the newest intruders arrive.
Luna, her adoptive father, and Gardevoir were expected. Bennett’s mother was not.
Why did she have to come? He would’ve preferred her not to get involved in this. Not to see him like this.
Just as predicted, Bennett’s mother is upset with him. Tries to ground him, even, but it’s not like she can. Not anymore.
At least Bennett gets the chance to apologize to Luna. An actual apology, this time, given with the knowledge that he’s not owed acceptance.
Soon, Zero insists on having Carly fight the others. And Luna seems keen to be up first. She frames it as being a chance for Bennett to prove his new self— to cut the strings.
But she also says she is doing it for Carly. Because they are friends.
So be it, then.
As Carly and Luna fight, Bennett stares at the vital tracker to avoid his mother’s gaze… but soon he notices something odd. Carly’s vitals are off.
It’s not like Bennett is an expert on human bodies, but he’s sure at least a few of her vitals are higher than they should be. Just compared to how Shelly and Cain’s were when they were battling her.
Does Carly have some sort of health condition, or something? Bennett hasn’t heard about anything like that, but then as he’s begun to acknowledge, he doesn’t really know her, so it’s completely possible.
Or maybe it has something to do with whatever’s happening with the power. Something or other is making the lights flicker, and Carly even grips her head for a moment during a few of the times it happens. Odd.
Cain seems fine. His vitals are regular, and while he shifts in place, blank expression wavering a few times as the lights flicker, he never grips his head.
Maybe it’s a combination of everything that’s happening that makes Carly and her vitals react differently? The fact that she’s battling instead of just standing around, the power issues, and possibly a heath condition combining to put some kind of strain on her?
Bennett does feel some worry at the idea, but it’s not like they can just let her go. So he just keeps a keen eye on her vitals to make sure they don't become even more irregular.
Carly beats Luna, and then Bennett’s mother and Luna’s father step forward to battle, something Zero is eager to let happen. Unfortunately, Bennett isn’t able to override his direct orders, but was able to at least toss Carly some Full Restores.
Once she wins again, there’s more talk. Bennett chastises Zero, and then, at the questioning of his mother, admits something aloud for the first time— that he can’t live up to his new role as a member of the Elite Four. Not yet, at least.
But he will, eventually. He will continue to grow and change. He must. What else can he do, at this point?
His mother doesn’t seem very impressed, given that he’s still with Team Meteor, and even Luna’s father tries to chastise him, so Bennett tells Zero to make himself useful already by putting them all to sleep.
But Gardevoir takes a stand.
She cannot be talked down. Not by Luna, by her Trainer, or by Bennett. Energy starts to gather around her at a rapid rate.
At first, Bennett is worried that Gardevoir will hurt herself. And then Luna mentions the species’ ability to create a black hole, and he becomes worried that Gardevoir will kill them all.
Zero has the PULSE let go of Cain to take control of Gardevoir, but it’s too late. Energy continues to gather and spiral.
“Everyone, get out of here!” Bennett says.
“What about Carly and the others?!” his mother asks.
“There’s no time—” Bennett says. “Ugh, Volcarona! Go already!”
Energy crackles around Gardevoir, ready to burst. And without even thinking, Bennett grabs Laura, then runs.
A black hole swallows up a good chunk of the room. Gardevoir and the PULSE are gone.
Bennett instructs Zero to report back to Labradorra, then goes to check on the others.
His mother is fine, to his great relief. But in addition to Gardevoir and the PULSE, Luna, Carly, and Cain are all gone.
Luna’s father tries to asks him if this is what he wanted. Then he puts on a wig that looks weirdly like Elias’ haircut, and tries again. This just upsets Bennett further… though a small part of him wonders why the man even has that.
But Bennett is able to come to a realization from the man’s words: he can use this to leave Team Meteor. Dues be damned, he’s done with them after all of that! They’ll just assume he died, at least for long enough for him to get away and lie low. He just needs to destroy the surveillance footage…
…and, as Luna’s father points out, stop Zero before he can make his report.
Shit.
To Bennett’s surprise, when he runs off to do that, a now awake Laura offers her help. Even when he explains what he’s done to her, she keeps offering her assistance. Her kindness.
It reminds him of Luna. And perhaps even of Carly.
Bennett comes up with a plan: he’ll destroy the security footage, Laura will catch Zero, and then they’ll meet up.
Bennett makes his way to the security room and gets to work. And as he does, he sees something on the live footage that shocks him— his mother, Luna’s father, and Shelly fleeing the building with several others… including Carly.
…maybe there’s hope for the others yet, then…
Once Bennett has gotten rid of enough of the footage, he finds some food and water elsewhere in the building and leaves, and soon after that Laura arrives with a Lilligant who is holding a sleeping Zero. They flee to a small cave partway down the mountain as it gets dark.
Bennett lets out his Volcarona to keep them warm. As Laura eats and drinks, he gives her a rough rundown of what’s happened over the past few months. At least, what he knows of.
“…and so I am completely willing to give you back your position,” Bennett finishes. And he means it. The thought stings, but… it’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?
“Maybe we could both do it together instead?” Laura suggests.
“That doesn’t exactly sound like something the League would allow,” Bennett says.
“Are you sure? We could each use one type, and three Pokémon,” Laura says. “It makes sense to me. And there’s no harm in at least asking, right?”
“I suppose we could ask, at least,” Bennett agrees. “So then… what do we do next?”
“Um…….. maybe you should get some rest?” Laura suggests. “This isn’t the best place for it, but you seem pretty worn out, and it’s late. I’m wide awake after sleeping for so long, though, so I can stand guard, and make sure Zero stays asleep.”
“That’s probably a good idea,” Bennett admits. “But I was more referring to what we should do after that.”
“Oh, we should head to Calcenon, of course,” Laura says. “My sisters are probably really worried about me…….. and I would like to help the others in the fight against Team Meteor.”
“Yes, that’s probably the best course of action for you,” Bennett says. “As for me… hmm…”
“What do you mean?” Laura asks. “I said we, as in both of us. Or all of us, I guess.”
“No, I don’t believe they would take too kindly to me there,” Bennett says.
Laura frowns. “My sisters will probably be upset, yes, but we can change their minds.”
Bennett shakes his head. “No, I’m not talking about them— although I’m sure they’ll be mad as well. I was talking about Carly.”
Laura looks surprised. “What? Why would you think that?”
“Trust me, I’ve more than earned it,” Bennett says. “I have been… well, ‘exceptionally rude’ would be a horrific understatement.
“As I said, I’ve worked with Team Meteor, and I’ve also made assumptions about her. And one of them very clearly struck a nerve, back at the workstation. She was furious with me. I would not be surprised if her reaction to seeing me show up would be a fist to my face… but I would probably say it was deserved.”
“That’s……..” Laura starts, looking thoughtful. “……..well, I can’t claim to be Carly’s closest friend in the world. But I have lived with her for a time, and I’ve known her to be kind. I could be wrong, of course, but…….. I just don’t think that payback is in her nature.”
“…I suppose we can at least try,” Bennett says. “In fact, I should still be able to pass through the barrier blocking Labradorra. I might be able to take it down, so that you and the others can get in and take the city back. If the others are willing to believe me long enough to let me get past them, of course.”
“That would be perfect! Don’t worry, I’ll vouch for you,” Laura promises. “For now, though, you should get some sleep.”
Bennett nods, and prepares to do just that.
Maybe, for once, he’ll be able to do something good.