If it was even possible, Veilstone City was even larger than Hearthome City. Many buildings towered above. Not that there wasn't much to do, I mean, there was a casino, a department store, and a gym with the gym leader actually there, but it seemed kind of suspicious because one building to the north of the city. It was tall with large spikes sticking out the side.

"Oh, I wonder. Who in the world could be in that building? Hmmm…" I muttered sarcastically. "Team Galactic? Psh. Nah, not a possibility. There's no way that they could be here in Veilstone City." I balled my fists until my nails dug so deeply into my palms that my palms started bleeding. Team Galactic, this is the last straw… I'm serious. Cyrus, you're dead meat. I decided that I would save it for later, since I had to fight the gym leader. I got to the gym and standing there was Barry. He let out a breath, exhausted.

"Hey, Barry."

"Gah-oh, hey dude. What's up? Oh wait, I know. You're gonna go take on the gym challenge, aren't you? Well, I got my ass kicked the first time, but look!" He showed me his trainer case. "Heheh! It was tough. I'm sure it'll be no problem for you, 'cuz you're a freakin' powerhouse. You just keep getting tougher and tougher, don't you?"

"I guess so. I don't wanna brag about it, but yeah, I guess I am getting stronger. So how's it going with you?"

"Me? Well, after I got my ass kicked the first time, I had to go out to Route 214 to grind a whole lot. And then, I traveled down to Pastoria City and met the gym leader there and became his apprentice. Oh…" Just then, a dude in a weird mask and weird clothes came out of the gym's doors whistling a tune:

"The ring is my rolling sea. The towering waves shaped me…"

"Crash! Crash! Crasher Wake! Crash! Crash! Crasher Wake!" roared the big man. "I'm the tidal wave of power to wash you away! Put out the fire, Crasher Wake! Run from electricity, Crasher Wake! Ah, ah, aaaah, the ring is my sea…"

I stood there just blinking. Barry smiled.

"Oh, hello young fellow! Barry," greeted Crasher Wake addressing me, then Barry.

"Hello sir." I responded.

"You are going to take on the gym leader, Maylene, correct? Well, let me tell you, she's young, but born genius. I tried training with her, but I was stunned by how tough she was!"

"Yeah, but do you think she'll stand a chance against me?" A burst of flame shot out my nose. "I think she's in for a surprise."

"Oh, so you are a Fire type, huh? Heh! You might be able to defeat Maylene, but not me! I'll extinguish your flames with my mighty Water type Pokémon! We will meet again in Pastoria City. Good luck!" Crasher Wake turned and left. Barry followed.

"So he thinks he's so tough with his Water types, huh? Water might beat Fire and Steel types, but not this Fire/Steel type! In the meantime though, I think it's time to face Maylene."

I entered the gym, and oh my God, punching bags galore. I walked up to a punching bag and used Steel Punch, just to test out my power. A few seconds later when the dust settled, the punching bag was on the other side of the gym, off the sliding rails, (which had also been broken and bent in the process) broken open with sand flowing out, and the wall behind it with a cracked hole in it. Jeez! All this power… that wasn't even a full-power punch! I was amazed, as well as everyone else in the gym. I fought every trainer in the gym like it was a walk in the park, and then I met Maylene herself. She said she had seen my power from a distance and was eager to see my power in battle. She sent out her Meditite first, which didn't last two seconds, then her Machoke, which was tougher, but still easy as microwaving popcorn. Then at last, I faced her last Pokémon, a Lucario. Surprisingly, it actually took quite a lot of hits to take down. Before my second turn, Lucario used Metal Claw, which scratched my arms badly when I tried to block. Blood ran down my arms as I used Flame Uppercut and knocked Lucario into the air so hard that it was stuck to the ceiling. When Maylene withdrew Lucario, there was a big outline where Lucario once was. The battle was over in about a minute and Maylene gave me the Veilstone City Cobble Badge and TM60, Drain Punch. I thanked her and left. I visited the Pokémon Center after the battle and healed up to get ready to infiltrate the building to the north.

I wasn't able to do anything in the building itself because everything was blocked off. I managed to kill every Grunt there, staining the walls heavily with a deep red color.

I was busy looking for a secret entrance into the Team Galactic Veilstone Headquarters Building when I heard shouting coming from around the corner from the HQ.

"Come on, let me pass, guys!" shouted Barry's voice.

"This is not a playground for little kids! Now go away!"

"Arrgh… you wait until my friend shows up! He's gonna kick your asses!"

"Who, me?" I said.

"Gah-oh, thank God you're here, Vinny. I need you to do me a favor. I came back to Veilstone City from Pastoria City to do a job for Mr. Wake, and that was for me to go back here to an item from the warehouse, but these douchebags won't let me pass! So can you show these idiots whose boss?"

"Oh, definitely. And believe me, I'll do more than just show 'em whose boss! But, you're gonna have to leave. It's gonna get a little messy."

"Wait, what does that mean? Why do I gotta go?"

"Don't ask questions. It's better that you don't know. I'll get the thing you need, and I'll meet you in Pastoria City. Now leave."

"Okay… I'll wait there. The item I needed was HM02, Fly. You should be able to find it in there." Barry left, leaving me to face the two Grunts.

"Looky here. If it isn't the one who constantly ruins our plans. The pyro."

"Yeah, but I have a name, dickbag. It's Vinny, and I'll make you remember it in hell!"

A couple of blood rage minutes later, both Grunts were nothing more than a flaming pile of guts and organs. I entered the warehouse to get HM02. I found that the entrance to the HQ was also blocked off, so with a disapointed sigh, I left.

On Route 214, I fought all the trainers I could find, gaining exp. points as I pressed on. I continued south to the Valor Lakefront and Hotel Grand Lake. There was a restaurant there bustling with trainers and other folks. I fought every trainer there as well but as soon as I was done, my stomach started growling. So I just sat down and had some dinner. While I was eating, I decided to check HM02, Fly. I read the fine print underneath the "HM02" sticker which read: This is an HM, or Hidden Machine. It is a very rare technique and is one out of 8 Hidden Machines that can be obtained. This particular HM contains Fly, obviously. When taught to a Pokémon, the Pokémon will be able to fly to any known town. However, the Veilstone City Cobble Badge is required to legally use this HM outside of battle. Luckily, I had just that. So I paid for the meal, exited the building, and taught HM02 to Fearow right then and there. I didn't want to fly directly to Pastoria City, though. I just walked the rest of the way there, battling trainers all the while until I got to Pastoria City Gate.

Pastoria City was much smaller than Veilstone City, but that was made up for when I found out that there was a Safari Zone. I entered the Great Marsh and just went around going on a catching spree. I caught many Pokémon that I didn't even know about, like Yanma, Tropius, Noctowl, and Quagsire. I caught many other Pokémon, and I even obtained HM05, Defog.

I eventually made it to the gym, where Barry was. I gave him HM02 and challenged him. When the battle was over, I went to challenge the gym. I got past the puzzle easily and fought the trainers in the gym. I eventually made it to Wake who was stunned by me defeating his Water types with fire. He learned after that not to judge others by appearance and gave me the Pastoria City Fen Badge as well as TM55, Brine. I exited the gym and healed at the Pokémon Center. Afterwards, I traveled through the marshlands that was Route 212. Rain poured down from the heavens like a raging monster. I fought all of the trainers there and continued on to the less rainy part of Route 212 only to find myself back in Heartome City again. By now, a bright warm sun was rising up. I flew back to Pastoria City on Fearow, and let me tell you, the view was amazing. The rain had subsided. Fearow and I were cruising high in the sky as I watched the morning sun rise up over the round horizon. I felt like I could melt away into the morning…

Warm… comfort… it's been a while since I've felt it…