Pokemon Heroes: Sinnoh Saga [Book 1]

Chapter 52: Team Galactic Returns

"Fresh off my defeat at the hands of Maylene, I decided to spend the next week training in and around Veilstone City alongside my friends. Jeremy, Niya and Alyssandra all helped my Pokémon get stronger through battle. My strategies were polished and finalized and tweaked and added to after a few days. But the rest of the week was used for practice and refinement. That didn't, however, stop us from getting distracted though. For all my burning desire to beat Maylene, I also can't ignore someone in trouble. We ran into Dawn and Lucas Oak again, who ended up also running into Team Galactic."

Sam sat down, ripping apart his sandwich ravenously.

Alyssandra had decided to make one for the entire group as they took a break from training Sam and his Pokémon for a rematch with Maylene later this week.

In the middle of the summer, the Sinnoh Region was at its hottest and the sun was beating down hard on the four teens and their Pokémon as they trained in the foothills just outside the city.

From their altitude, the group could see the wide-open North Sinnoh Sea. A large shipping harbour, a mass of warehouses covered the northern shores of Veilstone City. From here, ships would carry goods and cargo to Canalave and Snowpoint, as well as the Battle Zone.

All three ports—Snowpoint, Veilstone and Canalave—exported and imported goods from all the other regions of the world. Unova to Kanto, Hoenn to Johto and even Orre.

It was a beautiful sight.

"One day soon we'll be in Canalave, and Snowpoint," sighed Jeremy, "I can't wait."

"I know," laughed Alyssandra, "Before this adventure, the largest city we had ever been in was Jubilife once or twice. It's so much different from small town life in Twinleaf Town.

"I remember the last time we were here," laughed Niya, "We never got to see it like this. It's even more amazing this time around."

"We were never allowed out of our families' sights," interjected Sam, "After Jeremy and I nearly ran up a bill at the Game Corner, could you blame our parents?"

Jeremy looked at Sam and sighed. "Just have to bring that up, don't you?"

"Hey, I was just as responsible as you!" corrected Sam.

Niya burst out laughing. "Nearly ran up a bill? More like ran up a massive bill being all competitive! Thank goodness you weren't playing for any of the larger stakes like the adult section of the Game Corner."

"And that's why you two are never allowed near a Game Corner without supervision and a budget," smirked Alyssandra as she finished up her sandwich.

Sam stood up and dusted himself off. Looking down into the stony valley below that nestled and cradled Veilstone City. "Come on, let's head back."

"So soon?" wondered Niya as she stood up and joined him, "I thought you wanted to keep training?"

"I do," nodded Sam, "But I don't want to push my Pokémon too hard. Staravia is still flying a little slower than before. That Rock Throw did some damage. I'm glad I backed out when I did."

Jeremy nodded. "It could have been a lot worse."

Sam nodded back.

The group got up and gathered their things. They followed the narrow, well-worn, dirt trails back down to Veilstone City. The paths led down to the eastern end of the city, where several tourist attractions lay. Namely the series of large, unearthly meteorites that struck down outside the city two decades ago.