The next day the Trainers and Pokémon got up early to pack up camp before heading toward Crystal City. They were all quiet during the long trip, listening to the forest sounds. Though he didn't really mean to, Brock found that he spent most of this time looking at the youngest two of his companions, mainly wondering what exactly had happened to them the evening before. As for Ash and Misty themselves, they often caught each other's glance and shared a relieved smile, relief that the reason for their mixed feelings had finally been revealed. When Misty had awoken that morning, she had been disappointed, as the stranger' had failed to show up in her dreams. However, once she had seen Ash, she realised that she didn't need the stranger any more, now she had the real thing.
Meanwhile in the sky, a balloon carrying three passengers also headed to the City. "Are you sure you weren't just seeing things?" Meowth asked the girl with big hair. He was answered with a smack in the face. "I did not imagine all of those Pokémon, Meowth!" Jessie said and glared at the small Scrach Cat type. "It doesn't matter anyway." James interrupted. "Once we get to Crystal City, We'll be able to find out if the Pokémon are disappearing, or if you imag- error if they were never there in the first place."
Ash, Pikachu Brock Misty and even Togepi wore looks of amazement as they entered Crystal City-The biggest city in the entire Orange Archipelago. Tracey smiled at his companions. "Uh-huh. That's about the same expression I had when I first came here." He told them. "But I've kinda gotten used to the place now." He added as they followed him through the city. "Maybe we should find the Officer Jenny of this place." Ash suggested. "Yeah, she ought to know about the disappearing Pokémon." Misty replied. "I know where the police station is in this city. This way." Tracey said and pointed in the direction of the station.
When they got to their destination, they found Officer Jenny standing outside the front door looking worried, with a paper in her hand. She looked up as she saw them coming and gave a tight-lipped smile. "Hello there, can I help you?" She asked. The trainers went through the usual routine of Brock trying to flirt with her and being pulled away by Tracey who insisted that it was his turn, and the two of them started arguing-with the two Pokémon as their audience-while Misty and Ash talked to Jenny. "We've been to some of those Poke-points around the city and either there aren't any Pokémon anywhere or they're there one day and gone the next." Misty told the woman in the uniform. The police officer frowned and nodded. "You're not the only ones to notice that. The truth is, no one knows why the Pokémon are leaving the points, but there never seems to be any signs of a struggle at any of them." At this, Brock and Tracey stopped arguing and started listening. Officer Jenny looked at Ash. "You said your name was Ash, right?" She said. Ash nodded so Jenny continued. "Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Centre has told me to look out for you, she said that someone had sent you a message. Ash smiled. "Thanks. I guess we'd better go then." He said and turned to face Tracey. "Know where the Pokémon Centre is, Trace?"