I traveled back to Hearthome city and picked up Pandora. I switched Pandora for Vatra, because she can't learn any decent fire-type moves by level up until she evolves, and that won't be until level 40.
So me and Pandora, we trained. She was the sad one. She had confidence, and could use faith, but she loved her old trainer so much, and when he or she left her behind without her even knowing ahead of time, it was all so sudden... Or that's what she tells me, anyway.
Cressa eventually walked up to me and asked what I was doing.
"I'm training for Fantina."
"Oh." She said. "Then why do you only have two gym badges?"
"Why is that relevant?"
"Veilstone City's the next gym location." That news nearly broke my heart. What have I been training for?
"Well, thanks for letting me know." I said as Cressa left. Where was she going, anyway?
I went to Solaceon City, then North. I'm sure that's where it is. I picked some Aspear, Razz, and Pinap berries. I found a great ball, dodged some trainers, and whatnot. I found Cafe Cabin, but realized what one person I came across said. Something about this place being chaotic or whatever. Speaking of which, there was a random wall of Psyducks blocking the path to the left. Very funny. I headed right, and was greeted with immediate shows. Mood swing! The rain was actually good, because it beefed up Jendoa's water type attack, currently Brine. I dodged pretty much all but one trainer. I found a few battle items, and a full heal until I found another mandatory battle. Ace trainers. This might prove interesting. Jendoa and Luna VS a Monferno and Glameow. Not too bad, although I doubt I'll OHKO them both at once. I made Jendoa use Brine on the Monferno, and Luna use Return on Glameow. The Monferno just has to go. Monferno went first, and used Mach Punch of Jendoa. That's really hurt on Luna. Jendoa reached level 35, and Pandora reached 25 in the back of the team. Thanks, experience share! The return managed to take out the Glameow. No critical hits at all. Unfortunately, a Gyarados comes out on Luna's side. Oh, god no.. I made Jendoa use Brine on the Kadabra on the Glameow's side, and switched Luna with brine managed to actually take out Kadabra, and Shox leveled up to 26. And what of the Gyarados? It uses Thrash on Jendoa. Not much. Jendoa used Pluck, and Shox used Spark on the Gyarados. What a bloodrushing battle.
I picked a Wiki and Mago berry meanwhile.
Veilstone City... as I walked in, I saw them. I saw them with hatred...

Team Galactic...
I walked up to them. What do they want? They outright told me it was their warehouse. Derp. Essentially, they're just guards being guards. Someone in the way? Shove 'em out!
That was it. Huh
I went into the Veilstone Game corner and explored, or at least, when I could. Not now. Some random guy randomly gave me a random TM. Embargo? Useless. I finally found Dawn outside the Gym.
"Long time no see."
"Are you here to challenge the Gym?" She asked after saying "hi"
"Yeah, but I'd like to explore first."
"I went to the department store and.. well of course I'm working on the pokedex. Catch you later!"
What? Mew got her tongue?
I decided now was time to fight Maylene. It was Sai's time to shine. The gimmick of this gym was hintless decision, or moving? Wha? Some puzzle thing. I solved the puzzle, and decided to go heal up my team before I go after the main attraction of the gym.
Just me and Maylene...
"Hello. I'm pleased to meet you." She says to me.
"You too." I reply
"I'm Maylene, I'm the Gym Leader."
"I know."
"I don't really know –"
"Can we save for speeches for AFTER someone wins?"
"As you wish." She bows.
She leads with Level 27 Meditite, as I lead with Level 29 Sai. I feel awfully confident about this."
"Aerial ace!" It took out the Meditite rather fast.

Level 27 Machoke

"Aerial ace!" It lives with just less than half, and uses brick break on Sai, leaving her under half. Not good. Sai was faster, so another Aerial Ace should finish it.

Last Pokemon: Lucario... level 30.

Oh god... Lucario...

Sai had one hope: Endeavor + Quick attack. I figured I'd need it. It uses drain punch, killing Sai... No... Gone... Pandora should be able to do something, but she's very underleveled. I decided to risk using Jendoa. It was my best bet...
Jendoa had two moves that was super-effective against the Lucario: Pluck, and Rock Smash. Pluck did 20 more damage, but Rock Smash had a chance of lowering defense. I used Pluck, because if it had much it could do I'd rush to Pluck again.
It went for Bone Rush, it missed. Peck did about a quarter. Not enough... It went for force palm. It did a quarter, but it also paralyzed. All Jendoa needs to do is break through paralyzation and survive a hit... Lucario used Bone Rush again, but missed (again), and Jendoa broke through...
"...Ok. You win." Maylene said. "That was a tough loss. I learned a lot from it."
"This was a tough win to enjoy... at least I avenged Sai..."

"Is that her name?"

"Yeah.."

"I'm so sorry... You had to prove your skills, and you did it, right? Have the Gym Badge.

The Cobble Badge... Sai was Cobbled...

"Tm 60? What is it?"

"Drain Punch"

"Thank you."

I walked outside, and found Dawn complaining about Team Galactic stealing her Pokedex
"What do they want with it?"
"I dunno. Just meet me by the warehouse..."
"I'll be there soon."
I eventually did go to the warehouse, but not before a quick little chore. I returned to the old Chateau, as the ghosts had wished, as I buried Sai's body outside, and her soul roamed the house.
"Th-th-thank you for not leaving me alone. Th-they seem to like me here" Sai's spirit said. I wrote on Sai's grave, making her an epitaph.

"Sai, your valiant efforts protected the team until your eventual fall. You've saved Shox's life, and although you started unconfident, you became the brave soul that you are. You've accomplished things the rest of the team can't, and you were essential to the team, all the way to the better end. I couldn't have asked for a better bird Pokemon."
-Syndicate

So, who takes Sai's spot? The one and only Maverick.
"We got a lot of training to do..."