"I need your help to get it back." Lucas continued. The poor guy was upset. I have to help him! "I'll be waiting in front of the warehouses. Please come!" I shake my head. "Will do!" Things were about to get serious! But before they do, I need to stock up on some items. Can't go unprepared now can we? Stalling? Who's stalling? I'm not stalling! Anyway, I remember Lucas talking about a Department Store so I go look for it. It's a really tall building about four stories high filled with goods for your Pokemon. The first floor contained Trainer necessities such as Pokeballs, Potions, and Remedies. I bought some Potions because I'll need them for when I fight Team Galactic. Then some Pokeballs to catch future Pokemon.

"Okay, I think I'm good." I thought to myself. Then, the list of floors caught my eye. One had PokeDolls and goods. I wonder if they have a doll of Piplup? Yeah, I'm such a kid! Lucas can wait, right? It'll only take five minutes! Without delay, I head to the fifth floor and I saw shelves of PokeDolls. Some were used to make Wild Pokemon flee and others to comfort Trainers. When I see a small Piplup plushie I immediately grab it. "Come on, you have the real deal right here." Piplup said tugging my pants leg. "Yeah, but this is to take home. I can't take you back to my world otherwise it'll cause serious problems." The blue penguin sighed. I make my purchase and run for the warehouses.

"You're late!" Lucas said tapping his foot.

"Sorry, I went to stock up on some things." I said bowing in shame.

"Anyway, these guys, Team Galactic. They tried to steal Prof. Rowan's research results in Jubilife, remember?"

"Yes, how can I forget?"

"I ran into them, and they took my Pokedex away."

"Again, old news! Let's take them down!"

Lucas and I team up to fight Team Galactic. "United like this, our dream team has no chance of losing!" Lucas said beaming with excitement. The two Grunts send out a Zubat while I send out Piplup and Lucas sends out Monferno. Piplup uses Bubble Beam and Monferno uses Flame Wheel. Both Zubat are in a pinch and only do minor damage to our Pokemon. Once knocked out, Croagunk and Stunky are sent out. We execute the same attacks and both are critical hits.

"Done in by two kids?! This isn't right!" the first Grunt complained.

"I should have just kept my head down and watched the warehouse." the other sighed.

"Now hand it over, losers!" I said impatiently tapping my foot.

"Aww, this stinks! Our Pokemon our chumps! We should get new ones from headquarters. Humph! Who cares about some stupid Pokedex anyway?"

"Uh, he does!"

"Whatever! Team Galactic is going to own all of the Pokemon in the world. No, in the universe! There! Take it!" Grunt 1 said handing the Pokedex to Lucas.

The low life runs into one of the warehouses in shame. Probably too embarrassed to his face to the boss or his peers. "Those things we had in the warehouse have already been moved to Pastoria City. So, we'll say, 'You'll get yours!" And run like the grunts we are." With that, Grunt 2 leaves into the warehouse where his comrade ran into. "What's going on?" Lucas asked. "Why is Team Galactic out in the streets like they own the place?" I just looked at him unsure because I don't know. "Rebekah, thank you, sincerely. I would've been lost without my Pokedex. It's indispensable for helping Prof. Rowan with his studies. So, Rebekah, what are you going to do now?" I took a moment to think and remembered about Pastoria City. Before I could answer, Lucas interrupted with his ideas.

"I'm thinking of going to the Pokemon Mansion on Route 212. I hear they show rare Pokemon to visitors there." Suddenly, we hear running and painting. It was none other than Looker! We haven't seen that guy since Eterna City.

"Have no fear, I have come running. I heard of children feuding with Team Galactic. It turns out, of course, to be you."

"Oh! It's that funny man from Jubilife." Lucas said finally taking notice of who's here.

"You insult me to my face? How very uncouth of you." Looker said rather steamed.

"I'm terribly sorry! Team Galactic took my Pokedex, so I was very irritated. I just blurted it out, so I guess I should be going. Be wary of Team Galactic."

Lucas leaves feeling ashamed of himself. "It is of no matter." Looker said breaking the silence. "Of more interest is the criminal behavior of Team Galactic. They attempt to steal the belongings of a child? The scale of their criminality, it seems rather minuscule. The triviality of their actions makes them more sinister, perhaps. Their warehouse needs investigation. Come with me, and we'll take a look."

Yes! Finally! We walk into the Galactic warehouse and it's bigger than I thought. An automatic door is locked so we need a key. Looker looks around and does not find the key. "So, we did not learn very much from this exercise...no matter. What concerns me is what I overheard in the Game Corner. Team Galactic has transported something to Pastoria City. What they are up to, I don't know, but I have bad feelings about it." Well, it looks like I'm off to Pastoria City. As much as I'm into getting all eight Gym Badges, my main priority is stopping Team Galactic in their schemes.

To get to Pastoria City, I have to go through Route 214 which leads to Valor Lakefront. As I walk by what appears to be the entrance to Lake Valor, I see two men holding a camera. But why? I guess it's for a news story so I move on. In this small area there's a building so I walk in to maybe catch the news broadcast or find something useful. There's a girl blocking the way, but she lets me in. Inside is nothing really fancy, just a living room setup. Sadly, there is no TV, but a man with teallish hair, blue eyes, and purple outfit walks up to me and stares.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I see...despair. It weighs heavy, stealing your energy and will to live." the boy said without blinking once. I see, this guy is a psychic looking through the windows to my soul. Finally, the little psychic blinks and lowers his eyes a little. Then he places his hand on my chest which caught me off guard. "Your heart, it's known as the wellspring of life. All of your sorrows and joys flow through it. But it seems the sorrows have washed away your joys. That is why you are hurting." I guess I really am read like an open book. Maybe my issues are cliche, it wouldn't surprise me now, but there in that moment I wouldn't think that. "How do you know?" I asked about to cry. "I see it in your eyes. A longing for comfort, a companion to hold you through your pain." This guy was spot on! He knew I was looking for friendship and no one can give me that except Cynthia. Everyone else abandons me because they know I'm not like them.

"Will I ever find that?" I asked.

"Someday." he said.

"Okay, thanks."

Continuing down the path to Pastoria City, I walk down this staircase and a rather heavy set man stops me. "Stop, stop! Yes, you! Sunnyshore City, which is down this road, had a major blackout! Crews are working on restoring power, but the road's closed now." The man walks back to his position ready to stop others from coming until the job is done. I wasn't wanting to go there yet anyway.

According to the map, Pastoria City is past Route 213 and that is down at the beach. Yeah, I didn't dress for it but I'm not here to sunbathe or swim. Running or walking on sand is a bit bumpy with the little hills of sand here and there. But it was short lived when I stumble upon grass and dirt. The sign pointing to my left reads, "Pastoria City." I walk in the little building bridging between Route 213 and Pastoria City. Finally, the home of my fifth Gym Badge and where Team Galactic is up to no good.