Vermillion City was as picturesque as any bay-side town Arden had ever seen. Then again, his experience with bay-side towns was remarkably limited. All the same, the air was fresh and blue and smelt of salt and fish. As Arden entered the town, looking about with boyish wonder, the earth quaked beneath his feet, sending him stumbling.

"What was that?" he said, as Fang regained his own balance on his shoulder. "An earthquake?"

"Meow," said Thief, extending one paw. Arden followed Thief's motion with his eyes, and saw he was gesturing to a lot where a man was giving instructions to his machoke. The fighting pokemon stomped about the ground, flattening it and causing it to shake.

"Huh. That's weird," said Arden, turning away from it. His gaze fell on a large building at the edge of town. "…any bets on what that is?"

"Golbat!" said Fang.

"Meow," said Thief.

"…that's, uh… That's not helpful at all," said Arden. He shifted the weight of his bag on his shoulder and started down the street toward it. "I'm sure it's the pokemon gym. This city's supposed to have one, I think."

"Meow," said Thief.

"Oh my!" said an older gentleman. He rushed up to Arden. "You there!"

Arden turned to look at him. "Yeah? Can I, uh, help you?" asked Arden. He hoped the answer was 'no'.

"That is a magnificent meowth you have there!" said the man, picking up Thief and holding him against his chest. "Its fur is so soft and its eyes are so bright! Tell me, does this amazing creature have a name?"

"Yeah. He's, uh, called Thief."

"I see, I see!" said the man. "So you named it after a move it knows? Amazing!"

"Uh, not exactly… I mean, yeah, sure," said Arden. "Who—who are you, exactly…?"

"I'm the chairman of the Pokemon Fan Club!" said the man with a broad grin.

"Oh," said Arden. "…that's nice."

"It sure is!" said the man. "Just as nice as my rapidash! Have you ever seen a rapidash? Well, you haven't seen a rapidash until you've seen my rapidash! It's so smart and beautiful and strong and—"

"I'm sorry," said Arden. "I have somewhere I need to be. Do you mind giving me back my meowth?"

"Sure, sure," said the man, handing Thief to him. "Why don't you and that gorgeous pokemon come see us at the Fan Club some time?"

"Yeah, fine. See you," said Arden, walking away. When he was well out of sight, he mumbled to his pokemon, "What a weirdo."

"Meow," said Thief, holding up a small piece of paper in one paw.

"What's that?" Arden asked. He took it. "…a bike voucher? Where'd you get this? I don't remem—ah! You stole it from that old guy, didn't you?!"

"Meeeoooow," said the meowth, grinning.

Arden raised his eyebrows. "You sly devil, you," said Arden, patting Thief's head. He pocketed the bike voucher. "This doesn't mean I forgive you for taking Flop's pokeball off my belt."

He reached the tall building on the shore, at Vermillion's edge, noticing a luxurious ship docked near by. "The SS Anne," said Arden, reading the words on the ship's side. "Isn't that the ship Bill gave us the tickets to? Huh."

"Meow!" shouted Thief, looking at the cruise ship in wonder. He leaned toward it, but Arden grabbed him around the chest.

"Not now," he said. "I want to go battle the gym leader of this town. We can check out that ship later."

He started toward the gym, only to find his entry blocked by a wall of hedges. "What is this?" grunted Arden. He glanced around. "Blocked? …I've got it. Fang, help me get over this. Hang on, Thief."

Fang bit down hard on the collar of Arden's coat. "Careful—don't get puncture holes in it! It's new…"

"Gooool," mumbled Fang. He flapped his wings hard, lifting Arden a little off the ground.

"Great—keep it up," said Arden, as he grabbed a hold of the nearest hedge and started to pull himself up, assisted by the golbat, as Thief dug his claws into Arden's pant leg. Arden reached the top of the hedge, Fang straining to help him, and toppled over, sprawling both pokemon and himself on the ground.

Arden sat up dizzily after a minute. "Nng… We're in?" He stood up, as Fang flew to him. "Ah! We're in! Fang, return."

"Meow," mumbled Thief, his paws over his head.

"Come on—you can't be hurt. It wasn't that bad," said Arden, picking the meowth up by the scruff of the neck. "Don't be a wimp. Besides, we have battles to fight."

He paused to read the sign in front of the gym. "Vermillion City Gym. Leader: Lieutenant Surge, the Lightning American." Arden put a finger to his chin. "Lightning American? Wonder just what that means…"

"Meow, meow," said Thief, climbing up onto Arden's shoulder. "Meow."

"He's a Lieutenant," said Arden. "So that means—eh, could you stop meowing in my ear? …if he's a Lieutenant, that must mean… Uh… He's, um, well it sounds like it means he's probably absolutely terrifying."

"Meow."

"What did I tell you about the meowing?" asked Arden, flicking Thief in the nose.

"Meow!"

"Shush," said Arden. "It wasn't that bad. I mean, I've got a feeling you're about to get it a whole lot worse."

He stood before the gym doors and, steeling himself, entered into the stifling hot of the building.