To my readers-I decided that instead of making 2 huge volumes of A Ketchum's journey, I decided to make them into 4 separate volumes. Volume 1 will contain the Kanto and Johto regions, Volume 2 will contain Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, Volume 3 will contain Unova and Kalos regions, last but not least, Volume 4 will contain Alola and Galar regions. I want each and every one of you to know that if you personally don't like the way I'm writing the fanfic, then you don't have to read it. I will not reach through my laptop to force you to read any fandoms that I write for because you can probably find a lot better fanfics in those fandoms over mine. Even if you can't find what you're looking for and still don't like the way I write it, then I encourage you to write your own. Happy Reading!
I DONT OWN POKEMON. I ONLY OWN MY OC AND THE CREATION OF HER REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS. ALL REGIONAL POKEMON TEAMS WILL BE POSTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CHAPTERS FOR MY OC.
Shoutouts:
Narrator: Shortly after their arrival to the Hoenn Region, Ash and Hayley met an aspiring new Pokémon trainer named May. Now, together, they're on their way to Oldale Town where Ash will register for the Hoenn League.
Hayley: And where I can get the Hoenn handbook for any new Pokémon that Ash and I might get.
Meeko: Riol!
Hayley: Yep….they're going to be yours and Pikachu's new siblings.
"Pikachu, Hayley, Meeko, since Oldale Town is so close, you three want to race the rest of the way?" asked Ash.
"Sure. Olu." said Hayley and Meeko.
"Pikachu!" said Pikachu.
"Hey, hold up a minute!" said May.
"Huh?"
"You're walkin' too slow." said Ash.
"May, you need to pick up the pace." said Hayley.
"If I'd knew you both would run the whole way, I wouldn't have offered my help!" said May.
"What're you talkin' about?" asked Ash. "Do you know what she's talkin' about, Hayley?"
"Other than complain about her bike, no." said Hayley. "She basically volunteered to take us to Oldale town."
"We just want to get there before it gets too dark." Ash finally tells May.
"Hmm." scoffed May. "I did have a bike."
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"You know, I guess there's no harm if we slow it down just a little bit." said Ash.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
"It would give me and Meeko some time to stretch our arms a bit." said Hayley.
"Riolu!" said Meeko.
"That's right." said May, smirking at the siblings. "Ash? Hayley?"
"Yeah?" they both said.
"I always thought that Pokémon were supposed to stay inside their Pokéballs, right?" May said. "And I thought kids younger than 10-years-old shouldn't be traveling with a Pokémon."
"I guess so, but Pikachu likes it better hangin' outside with me, right, buddy?" Ash asked.
"Pika, Pika!" said Pikachu.
"Huh." said May.
"Normally, you're right about Pokémon staying inside their Pokéballs and that kids like me traveling with their own Pokémon." said Hayley. "But with some Pokémon like Pikachu, they don't like being inside their Pokéballs so their trainers make an exception."
"Really?" asked May.
"Yep. For me, I chose to travel with Ash…..not just because he's my brother." Hayley explained. "It's because I wanted to go with him to see what kind of Pokémon that are out there and if I wanted to be a Pokémon Trainer just like him. Professor Oak already had a Pokémon egg picked out for me and Meeko was the one who hatched from it."
"Riolu! Olu!" said Meeko, smiling wide as she posed.
"She's so cute!" said May, scratching Meeko on her head. She then looks at Torchic's Pokéball. "I havent gotten any complaints from my Torchic yet. Uh, come to think of it, I barely know anything about this Torchic!"
"Than what you should do is look it up in that new Pokedex you just got." said Ash.
"That's what Ash did when Meeko hatched." said Hayley.
"Oh, yeah!" said May and takes out her Pokedex. "Mm. Well, it says here that Torchic is a fire type Pokémon, and its attacks are…."
"Hey, look at that!" said Ash.
"At what?" asked May. In front of the small trio was a water Pokémon.
"Ah!" May gasped.
"Azurill, the Waterball Pokémon." said Dexter. "Azurill is able to throw its tail like a lasso, using the momentum to move about."
"Azurill!" said Azurill, tilting its head.
"Hi, little one." said Hayley.
"Olu." cooed Meeko.
"Azurill!" it said, showing them a smile.
"What's Hayley doing?" asked May.
"She's showing Azurill that it's okay to trust her." Ash explained.
"Azu!" said Azurill, hopping over to Hayley and wrapping its tail around her leg.
"It's so cute! I want it!" said May.
"Then, try and catch it!" said Ash.
"Yeah." said Hayley.
"All right. I'll just grab me a Pokéball and throw it!" said May.
"Uh…Pikachu! Riolu!" said Ash, Hayley, Pikachu and Meeko.
"No, not like that, May!" said Ash as May threw the Pokéball.
"Pika!" shouted Pikachu.
"Too late!" said Hayley as the Pokéball made contact with Azurill.
"Riol!" said Meeko.
Azurill goes inside the Pokéball and it starts to shake. "Oh, yeah!" said May. "I caught my first Pokémon!" Just then, Azurill comes out of the Pokéball. "Azurill!" Azurill said to May.
"Yeah…it looks really angry with you." said Hayley.
"Hey! What gives?" asked May.
"Well, you're not gonna catch anything that way." said Ash.
"Why not?" asked May. "I threw an empty Pokéball at it, didn't I?"
"You did, but there's more to it than that, May." said Hayley. "When it comes to capturing a wild Pokémon, you have to battle and weaken them first before you throw the Pokéball."
"Exactly. And if said wild Pokémon still has fight in them, they'll come back out of the Pokéball." said Ash, then points between him and Hayley. "We've learned from experience."
"Right, I know." said May. "Time for a Pokémon battle! Torchic, I choose you!"
"Torchic! Torchic!"
"Half a canister of Pokémon food that Azurill wins the battle." Hayley said to Meeko.
"Olu!" said Meeko.
"Now, what are those attacks again?" May asked, trying to remember.
"Pika." Pikachu said to Hayley and Meeko, wanting in.
"Torchic!" said Torchic, running towards Azurill.
"Torchic!" shouted May.
"Torchic! Torchic!" Torchic said as it chases after Azurill and runs into a tree. "Tor, tor!"
"That wasn't good." said May. "Torchic, are you okay?"
"Pika!" Pikachu called out.
"Azurill!" said Azurill.
"Tor!" said Torchic.
"Whoa!" May said as Torchic chases Azurill. "Torchic, not so fast! Wait for me!"
"Azurill! Azurill!"
"Torchic!"
"Azurill! Azurill!"
"Tor!"
"Azurill! Azurill! Azurill! Azurill!"
"Torchic!" said Torchic, crashing into a rock.
"Okay." said May, picking her Pokémon up. "Next time, don't do anything until I tell you to."
"Torchic?" it asked with tears in its eyes.
"Hey, what are you cryin' for?" she asked. "Come on!"
"May, if you don't hurry, it'll get away!" said Ash.
"Huh?"
"Azurill!" said Azurill.
"Tor!" said Torchic.
"All right." said May. "Torchic, use your Peck attack!"
"Tor….." said Torchic, aiming its beak at Azurill.
"Azurill!" squealed Azurill and dodges. "Azurill!"
"Torchic! Torchic! Torchic! Torchic! Torchic!"
"Over there, Torchic!" May said.
"Azurill!" it said as it gets away.
"Tor!" Torchic runs after it.
"No, wait for me!" May called out.
"Azurill!"
"Tor!"
"Azurill! Azurill!"
"Tor! To-o-o-o-r!" shouted Torchic as it shoots out Ember.
"Azurill! Azurill! Azurill!"
"Torchic!" said Torchic, proud of itself. "Tor?"
"Azum!" said Azumarill.
"Marill!" said Marill.
Both evolved forms of Azurill glared angrily at Torchic. "Torchic! Tor!" said Torchic as Hayley, Ash and May caught up with it.
"Torchic!" said May.
"Judging by those angry looks," Hayley said as she gives Meeko and Pikachu their snacks. "they're angry at Torchic for firing its fire attack at them."
"Riolu." said Meeko, nodding as all three water Pokémon fired Water Gun on Torchic, who then screams and faints.
"Torchic!" May gasped.
"Azurill! Azum!"
"Marill!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" said Ash.
"Pika!" shouted Pikachu. "Pika….chu!" Aiming his Thunderbolt at the ground in front of them, Azurill, Marill and Azumarill were scared for their life as they ran to the water. On the ground, Torchic whimpers to May.
"Torchic, say something, anything!" said May.
"Lesson 101 about Pokémon." said Hayley, walking up to May. "Always learned about a Pokémon's typing."
"See, fire type Pokémon like Torchic weak against water attacks." said Ash.
"While Water Type Pokémon like Azurill are weak against electric types like Pikachu." added Hayley.
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"I feel terrible." said May. "What should I do about this, Ash and Hayley?"
"Don't worry, May!" said Ash. "Once we get to the Pokémon center, you can have Torchic's energy restored, right there!"
"Riolu!" said Meeko, taking out her bath scrubber from Hayley's backpack.
"That's right! Can't forget to have a bath!" said Hayley.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" said May.
The small trio ran in the direction of Oldale Town with May holding Torchic's Pokéball in her hands. "I wonder what all those rocks are for." said Ash, seeing the rocks ahead of them.
"Huh?"
"Are those rock formations?" asked Hayley. Stopping, they see crumbling buildings.
"It looks like it might be a bunch of old buildings, Ash, Hayley." said May.
"Riol?" asked Meeko.
"Pika." said Pikachu.
"Well, actually, these are the ruins of Oldale!" said a man, walking up to them. "I'm Professor Alden, and I'm here investigating them!"
"Olu!" Meeko said, nodding.
"Yep." said Hayley.
"Hi. My name's Ash. This is my sister, Hayley." said Ash as Hayley waves.
"And my name's May. Hello!" said May.
"Nice to meet the three of you." said Professor Alden. "So tell me, where're you three going in such a big hurry?"
"We're trying to find the Pokémon center." said Ash.
"Ah!" he said, turning around. "Well, you're almost there. It's just over this hill."
"That's great. Thanks!" said Ash.
"Thank you so much!" said Hayley.
"Thanks a bunch!" said May.
"Pika, Pika!" said Pikachu.
"Riolu!" added Meeko.
Once at the Pokémon center, May goes to the desk while Hayley goes to give Meeko a bath. "Nurse Joy, could you please help my Torchic?" she asked.
"No problem." said Nurse Joy. "Let's see now."
"Does it look okay in there?" asked May.
"One more second." said Nurse Joy, taking a look at Torchic. "Torchic's fine. A good night's sleep is all your Torchic needs!"
"Thank goodness!" said May.
"Feel better now, May?" asked Ash.
"Mm-hmm."
"Pika, Pika!" said Pikachu.
"I think a good night's sleep would do you some good as well!" suggested Nurse Joy.
"Yeah!" said May and Ash.
"Pikachu!"
"Now that you're clean, it's time to dry you off, Meeko." said Hayley, carrying Meeko into the waiting room.
"What is Hayley doing?" asked May.
"Hayley and Meeko have a routine whenever Meeko gets a bath." said Ash as Meeko dries her ears.
"Hey, Ash? Hayley?" May asked.
"Yeah, what's up?" asked Ash.
"Well, I was thinkin', now that I'm in a Pokémon center, will you both show me around?" she then asked.
"Yeah, of course." said Ash as Hayley nodded. "But Hayley and I need to make a couple of calls to a couple of people before we do."
"Hey, Professor Oak, Hayley and I just now got into Oldale Town!" said Ash as he, Hayley and May were at the phones.
"Wonderful, Ash!" said Professor Oak. "It's always nice to hear from you and Hayley."
"I just finished registering to be in the Hoenn League, Professor, so I'm ready to go and psyched for my first badge!" Ash tells him.
"And I'm ready to get my first Hoenn Pokémon to train, whether it's a Pokémon egg or not." said Hayley.
"It sounds to me like another big adventure for the both of you!" said Professor Oak.
"That's right!" said May, joining in on the call.
"Ooh?" Professor Oak asked, not recognizing May.
"We havent been introduced yet, but I'm May!" she said to the Kanto Professor.
"Ow! You're hurting me and Meeko!" said Hayley, struggling under the older girl.
"Well, hello, May!" said Professor Oak. "I'm Professor Samuel Oak from Pallet Town!"
"I know you!" said May. "My brother never misses any of your radio lectures. And when I tell him that I've been actually talking to you, he'll be so jealous!"
"Well, how nice!" Professor Oak said as Ash pulls Hayley and Meeko out from under May.
"Thanks, Ashy." said Hayley, taking in a deep breath.
"Olu!" said Meeko, patting him on the shoulder.
"Of course, I know that I'm just a beginning Pokémon Trainer, but I promise you I'll work hard." May tells him.
"Well, May, with Ash and Hayley right by your side, you should do very well." beamed Professor Oak. "I wish the three of you a safe and successful journey!"
"Thanks!" said May and Ash.
"Hayley! Meeko! Be good for Ash and Pikachu!" he said to the youngest.
"We will!" said Hayley as she rubs the pain away from her stomach area.
"Riolu!" Meeko said in agreement.
"Pika, Pika!" added Pikachu.
"What?" asked Giovanni as night fell around a phone booth. "You're in the Hoenn region?"
"That's right!" said Jessie. "Still hot on the trail of that rare Pikachu and Riolu so that one day soon, that Pikachu and Riolu will be all yours!"
"And now that we've tracked them down, we're ever so close to the capture!" chimed in James.
"'Cause when it comes to the honor of Team Rocket, there's nothin' we wouldn't do for ya!" said Meowth.
"Well, since you've taken the liberty of calling me on my private line, I'm assuming that you have some good news, yes?" asked Giovanni.
"Well, the thing is…" said Jessie.
"Good detective work doesn't come cheaply, so our cash reserves are a bit low!" said James.
"Could we get an advance?" asked Meowth.
"No!" Giovanni tells them, causing them to groan in terror. "You'll receive no more funds."
Team Rocket then sighs. "However, I do have an opportunity for you." he said.
"Opportunity?" asked Team Rocket.
"Although Team Rocket operates internationally, we havent been able to set up operations in the Hoenn Region." Giovanni explained. "So if you three can successfully accomplish this, that's when we will talk money."
He then hangs up and sighs. "Hmm. I wonder how many times they'll appear before Hayley and her brother." Giovanni said to himself, smirking. "That's if she and Meeko havent started already."
"We're going to start a branch office?" Team Rocket asked.
"A direct order from the boss himself to achieve true greatness." said Jessie as James smiled at her.
"He's practically saying we're the next in line to take over control of Team Rocket." said James.
"All those long harsh years of strugglin' was worth it because…" said Meowth.
"Yippee!" they happily screamed. "We got a promotion. Yeah!"
"Wobbuffet!" said Wobbuffet.
"Persian." Persian meowed at its trainer.
"Losing those clowns will be worth it if I can learn about the operations of Team Aqua and Team Magma." said Giovanni, scratching Persian's chin, laughing.
That night, Ash and Hayley shows May the rooms at the Pokémon center. "And this room's where the trainers sleep!" said Ash.
"Wow! Not too shabby!" said May.
"Yeah!" said Ash.
"Meeko and I always share a bed." said Hayley. They then showed May the Pokémon center lobby.
"This is the lobby where the trainers that stay here hang out to share information." said Ash.
"Or for us younger trainers, brushing the Pokémon who have fur." said Hayley, looking at Meeko and Pikachu who then giggled.
"Yeah? You mean like where the malls are and where the best places to eat are and the best clothing stores are and things like that?" May asked.
"Not quite, May." Ash tells her. "They're all talking about Pokémon stuff."
"Like what kind of Pokémon food to give your Pokémon or how to raise your Pokémon." said Hayley.
"Oh." said May.
"I heard there's a new Gym Leader over at the Petalburg Gym." a trainer in the lobby said.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"Are you sure?" his friend asked.
"Yeah!" he replied.
"Hey, you guys, can you tell me who the new Gym leader is?" asked Ash, interrupting the conversation.
"Cool it, Ash!" May said, pulling him aside.
"Sorry about him. He's an idiot." said Hayley, looking over her shoulder. "My brother and I are from the Kanto region and he's entering the Hoenn league."
"That's okay. I can see that he means well." said the trainer and looks up at Ash.
"May, I'm tryin' to find somethin' out." Ash tells her.
"Can't you tell I'm completely starved?" she asked. "Let's go eat!"
"Uh, okay." said Ash. "Hayley, Meeko! Come on, you two."
"Coming, Ash! Olu!" said the two as they ran over.
In the cafeteria, the trio were eating dinner. On Meeko's plate, there was a mixture of both Pokémon food and human food. "Mmm, yummy!" said May. "You know, these centers are really great! Everything you could ever want in one place!"
"But remember, they're only here for the trainers so they can rest in between heavy training." said Ash.
"Well, you and Hayley are getting ready for heavy training, and I'm training too, right?" asked May.
"Uh, I guess if you put it that way." said Ash.
"I doubt that you're going to do some actual heavy training, May." said Hayley.
"Oh yeah?" she asked.
"Yeah." Hayley answered after swallowing a bite of food. "Even though I'm younger than Ash, he helps me with training my Pokémon for when I compete in two years."
"Exactly." said Ash. "Hayley and I made a deal when we first started out on our journey. I'm allowed to use her Pokémon to help capture my own, but not in Gym battles and the League."
"Wow." said May.
"Some of the Pokémon that we've met have either been captured by us, followed us or been given to me as a Pokémon egg." Hayley explained.
"Hayley have given me at least five or six Pokémon that she hatched for me." said Ash, smiling at his sister.
"That's because I want you to have more Pokémon, Ash." said Hayley as Meeko and Pikachu have a mini fight over the Ketchup bottle. "Stop that, you two!"
"The three weary travelers!" said Professor Alden. "Glad you made it safely."
"Uh….Oh, hi there." said Ash. Outside, Team Rocket was at their best, digging a hole outside of the Pokémon center. "Yum! Somethin' smells really good!" said Meowth.
"Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread sticks on the side." said James, dreaming of one of his favorites.
"Snap out of it!" said Jessie.
"Hmm?" the boys asked.
"Work on being a good thief, not a restaurant critic!" she tells them.
"Oh, yes! Right! Thanks!" said James.
"Soon as we set up a Team Rocket shop in the Hoenn region, we're number one!" said Meowth.
"But just a minute." said James. "Since we're the only members of Team Rocket in the Hoenn region, we already are number one, aren't we?"
"Hello! Slick thinkin', James!" Meowth said, smiling.
"If you two lazy good for nothings take that sort of attitude, Butch and Cassidey will just slide on in and take over!" Jessie stated.
"Jessie's right! Those no-good crooks!" said Meowth.
"You're so good with those morale-building pep talks." said James.
"A shovel here and a shovel there, we'll soon be sitting in the boss' chair!" sang Team Rocket as Wobbuffet cheers them on. "A shovel here and a shovel there…"
Inside the Pokémon center, Ash and Hayley were looking at a picture that was framed on a wall. "Professor," said Ash. "are those the same ruins that we saw when we were up on that hill?"
"Yes." said the professor. "And lucky for me, the Pokémon center has been generous enough to give me the use of this room while I continue my research on those ruins. You know, there's a stone chamber within the ruins, and legend has it that it's a sort of bridge or portal between our world and the ancient Pokémon world."
"Ancient Pokémon world?" asked Hayley.
"Riol?" asked Meeko.
"Wow." said May.
"But because of its strange construction, any attempts to enter the chamber have caused it to begin crumbling, so its contents remain unknown." explained Professor Alden.
"What do you mean by ancient Pokémon?" asked Ash.
"Pika?" questioned Pikachu.
"Do you mean Pokémon who are the ancestors of our Pokémon today?" asked Hayley.
"Olu?" asked Meeko.
"Well, Ash and Hayley, I'm not talking about extinct Fossil Pokémon like Aerodactayl and Kabuto." said Alden. "I'm talking about ancient Pokémon that have been living since ancient times without changing at all!"
"Wow, how cool!" said Ash.
"Olu!" said Meeko, shocked by this.
"Yeah! I wonder what they've been feeding off of for that long." said Hayley.
"Riolu, Riol." said Meeko, mimicking a fish.
"You're right, Meeko. They could be living off of that." Hayley said, nodding.
"Most of the details involving ancient Pokémon, like where they lived and how they lived, are still a complete mystery to the world." said Alden. "Guess it's all that mystery that makes it so fascinating!"
"Huh! There might be more to Pokémon than I thought!" said May.
"Ancient Pokémon." said Ash, looking back at the photo. "I'd love to meet one. Hayley too."
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu agreed.
"You and Hayley just might get your chance, Ash." said Alden.
"Huh?"
"The correct way to enter the stone chamber is written right here on this tablet." he said, holding it out for the trio to see.
"You're kidding!" said Ash.
"Let's go, then!" said May.
"Well, there are four keys needed to enter that havent yet been found, so I'm afraid we'll just have to wait just a bit longer!" Alden said to the kids.
"How much longer?" asked Hayley as she and Meeko were in protective gear.
"Where'd she get that?" asked May as Ash chuckles nervously.
Outside, a woman from one of the Hoenn region teams had heat vison googles on. "Professor Alden sighted." she said to her boss.
"Good. Then, let's begin." said her male coworker.
"Right!" said the people behind them. They were all wearing the same uniform, with the Team Magma insignia on them.
"I sure hope we find those four keys soon!" said Ash. Just then, the lights were shut off around them.
"Huh?"
"The lights." said May. They gasped as they see Team Magma and several Houndoom.
"What? What is the meaning of this?" asked Alden as Houndoom growled at him and the kids.
"Professor Alden, we would like you to accompany us on a little journey to the Oldale ruins." said the male Magma member.
"I will not!" Alden said.
"I'm sorry, Professor Alden." said Nurse Joy as she ran to his room. "When the power went….Oh!" Nurse Joy gasps as another Team Magma member grabs her from behind.
"Well, now, Professor, would you like to change your mind?" he then asked.
"Yes, all right." said Alden, not wanting Nurse Joy to be hurt. "I'll go with you, then."
Ash, Jordan, Nurse Joy and May were then locked in a room, to keep from following Team Magma. "Ow!" said May as she fell on her butt. "Hey!"
"Hey, let us out of here!" said Ash, banging on the door.
"What do they want?" asked May.
"To get inside the chamber, I'll bet!" said Nurse Joy.
"Do you know those people, Nurse Joy?" asked Ash.
"Oh, no, I don't." she tells them. "But I'm sure they caused the black out by cutting the power here to the Center." She gasps. "Then that means all of the Pokémon treated here are in danger!"
"Wait!" said May. "You mean my Torchic's in trouble?"
"We have to switch over to our reserve power right away." said Nurse Joy.
"To do that, we'll have to get out of here first." said Ash.
"Pika! Riol!" said Pikachu and Meeko.
"Huh?"
"Pika, Pik!" said Pikachu, pointing to a vent. "Pikachu!"
"An air shaft!" Ash exclaims. "Pikachu, Meeko, that's great!"
"Good work, you two." said Hayley.
"Tunnel complete!" said Team Rocket as they popped out from the ground. "Huh?"
They noticed that their hole was a bit short from the Pokémon center. "Okay, so I was off by a smidge." said Meowth.
"Houndoom." growled a Houndoom as it sees Team Rocket.
"You mind telling me what you're doing here?" asked the Team Magma leader.
"We're doing whatever we want to do!" said Jessie.
"You're looking at this region's top Team Rocketers!" said James.
"Prepare for trouble and make it double, and all that jazz!" said Meowth.
"Go, Arbok!" shouted Jessie.
"Weezing, you too!" shouted James.
"Charbok-a! Cha!"
"Weezing! Wee!"
"Houndoom! Hound!"
"Cha? Weezing!" said Team Rocket's Pokémon as they headed back into their Pokéballs.
"Huh?" said Jessie and James, confused by Arbok and Weezing.
"Why?" asked James. Houndoom continued to growl and glare at Team Rocket, causing them to whimper.
"You know, baby twerp's Houndour only growls at us when we took Meeko." said Jessie.
"You also can't forget when we also upset her too." said James as Jessie and Meowth nodded in agreement.
"But at least baby twerp's Houndour gives me a good bite to the tail." said Meowth. Team Rocket then hops back into their hole, lightly chuckling at Team Magma.
"We must've taken a wrong turn!" said Jessie.
"Sorry for the confusion, boys!" added James.
"Bye, now." said Meowth.
"Wobbuffet!" commented Wobbuffet as they sink back down in the hole.
"Huh." said the leader, thinking about the rumors. "So everything I heard about 'em was true."
Back inside the Pokémon center, Nurse Joy stares at the vent as Ash, Hayley and May crawled their way in. "I wish we had Charizard with us." said Hayley as they crawled through the vent.
"If we did, Charizard wouldn't be able to stretch out its wings." said Ash. "Just be glad I had some rope for you and Meeko to be tied together."
"We appreciate it." said Hayley.
"Olu!" said Meeko.
"Ash, Hayley, slow down!" said May, crawling far behind them.
"Huh? Pika?"
"Hey, May, why are you coming?" he asked.
"Why should I miss out on the adventure?" May asked.
"Right…." said Hayley.
"Now what?" Ash asked as they came across a cross vent. "Which way?"
Pikachu wiggled his ears, listening for something while Meeko tried to look for Alden's emotions. "Pika." said Pikachu, pointing to the right.
"That way, huh?" asked Ash.
"Meeko, is he right?" asked Hayley.
"Riolu." said Meeko, nodding.
"Pika." said Pikachu and scurries off to another cross vent, pointing left. "Pikachu!"
"You heard the mouse." said Hayley as they crawled after him.
"Hey!" said Ash as they see the vent opening. "The exit!"
"Wow, your Pikachu and Riolu are pretty smart, you two!" said May.
"That's because they see each other as brother and sister." said Hayley as Ash knocks the vent door with his shoulder.
Ash reaches over the desk to get a key while May runs past him. "Yes!" said Ash, grabbing the key. "The master key Nurse Joy was talkin' about!"
"I switched it over to reserve power!" said May.
"All set!" said Ash as they rescued Nurse Joy.
"Great, Ash and Hayley!" she said.
"Will you be okay, Nurse Joy?" he asked.
"You bet!"
"We're gonna go help Professor Alden!" he said.
"Please be careful." she called out as they took off. At the ruins, Team Magma surrounded the professor.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Alden. "Tell me! Why did you bring me here?"
"Why do you think?" asked the Team Magma leader. "We brought you so that you'd could help us gain access to the stone chamber."
"Huh?" Professor Alden looked at the stone chamber's entrance. "It won't work!" he tells him. "If we try to force our way into it, the chamber will collapse!"
"But you yourself said the way in is written on this little tablet." said Team Magma Leader. "Is that right, professor?"
"That's true, but I also said I need to have the four treasures as keys!" explained Alden.
"Of course." Team Magma Leader said. "The keys? Here you are."
Brought before him were the keys, four colored orbs. "What?" questioned Alden. "Where did you…"
"You see, we have friends in high places." said Team Magma leader. "The only thing left to do is find out which key goes in which hole, and you will help us with that."
"I won't!" Alden told him.
"Really?" Team Magma Leader asked. "Then, I can assume that you don't care about the fate of those poor people at the Pokémon center."
"You wouldn't." said Alden.
"We would and will unless you obey!" said Team Magma Leader. "So what will it be?"
Professor Alen groans as he made his decision. "You win." he finally said. Placing the keys in the correct spots, the door of the stone chamber shakes and starts to open. Team Magma rushes inside with the professor close behind them.
"Ah, astounding!" he exclaims, seeing what was on the wall. "Incredible! These panels depict ancient people and Pokémon living together! A miraculous discovery!"
"Do you see the information we came for?" asked Team Magma Leader.
"Not a trace." said the grunt.
"I've recorded all of the data from the walls." said the female grunt.
"We've come up with nothing again." said Team Magma Leader, then looks down at his watch. "Right, lets pull out!"
Ash, Hayley and May ran up as a helicopter was heard overhead. "There they go!" said Ash.
"Where are they taking him?" asked Hayley.
"Pika! Riol!" said Pikachu and Meeko as they watched Team Magma take off into the night.
"Ah." said Alden.
"Professor!" Ash called out as they see him outside and on the ground.
"Huh?"
"Are you gonna be all right?" asked May.
"Yes, I'm just fine." he replied.
"What a relief." said May.
"Who were those guys, anyway?" asked Ash.
"Prepare for very quiet trouble." said Jessie.
"Make it a very silent double." said James.
"That's right!" said Meowth. "Just look what the Meowth dragged in: four shiny new treasures!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Huh?" said May, turning her attention to Team Rocket as they shushed Wobbuffet.
"Too late! Meowth….you're grounded from seeing Meowzie." said Hayley.
"What!" shrieked Meowth.
"You guys!" said Ash.
"Rats! Seem like we've been discovered!" said Jessie.
"Hey! You guys give back those treasures!" said Alden.
"Arbok, go!" said Jessie.
"Charbok-a!"
"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" said Ash.
"Meeko, Bullet Punch!" said Hayley.
"Pika!" shouted Pikachu.
"Riol!" shouted Meeko, bringing up her fists.
"Char!" screeched Arbok as Quick Attack and Bullet Punch makes contact. The four keys were thrown out of Meowth's hands and rolled over to the others.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt 'em!" said Ash.
"Meeko, Vacuum Wave!" added Hayley.
"Pika…chu!" Pikachu shouted, releasing Thunderbolt.
"Riolu!" shouted Meeko, sending Vacuum Wave from her paws.
"Team Rocket's blasting off much too soon!" screamed Team Rocket.
"Wobba, wah!" shouted Wobbuffet.
"Team Rocket's nuts." said Hayley, shaking her head as Alden places the keys back in the door.
"Riolu, Olu, Riol!" Meeko said to Hayley, saying that Team Rocket is more than nuts.
"Good!" he said, sighing in relief. "They're back where they belong."
"Huh?"
Just then, sunlight appears through the door, shining on the keys. "The sun's up!" said Ash.
"Pika!" said Pikachu.
"Morning already?" asked May.
"And we didn't get a full night's sleep." yawned Hayley.
"Riol." grumbled Meeko, rubbing her eyes.
Behind them, the lights on the door flashed a bright glow, connecting through the lines on the wall. "That's supposed to happen….right?" asked Hayley as they all gasped.
The door moves back, revealing a secret passage in the floor. "What's this?" Alden asked. "Well, let's take a look!"
"Ah! Oh! Ah!"
They gasped at the sight of an underground cavern. "It's an enormous underground water supply!" said Alden, surprised by this.
"It smells so fresh and clean." said May.
"Makes us want to take a bath again." said Hayley.
"Riolu." commented Meeko.
"You're right!" said Ash.
"I wonder if it leads out to sea." Aldean said curiously. Just then, a random Pokémon jumps out of the water, causing them to gasp in shock. "Great Scott! The ancient Pokémon Relicanth!"
"I can't believe that I got it all on camera to show Professor Oak." said Hayley.
"Relicanth?" asked Ash.
"Pikachu. Olu."
"I'll be! It is true." said Alden. "These ruins are a portal between the present and the past!"
"May, I'm happy to report that your Torchic is as good as new!" said Nurse Joy.
"Oh, great! Thank you!" said May. "Okay, come on out!"
"Torchic! Tor! Torchic!" said Torchic.
"Oh!" squealed May. "I'm so glad you feel better!"
"Excuse me, Nurse Joy." Ash said. "Did you find out anything more about those crooks?"
"Officer Jenny is doing everything she can, but so far no clues." said Nurse Joy.
"That's too bad." said May.
"Honestly, whoever they are, they're starting to make Team Rocket seem more tame than they did in the past." said Hayley.
"Well, I guess it's time for us to head over to Petalburg City, right?" Ash asked May.
"Ash! Hayley!" said Alden.
"Uh?"
"Whatever it is, Pikachu did it." said Hayley.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Sorry, I'm use to doing that to Ash." she tells him.
"Leaving so soon?" he asked.
"Yeah." said Ash, then tries to calm Pikachu down.
"Hey, guess what." said Alden. "I've been doing a little more research over at the stone chamber, and so far, every indication has a pointed to ancient Pokémon and man interacting peaceably!"
"Wow!" said Ash.
"Cool. Riol." said Hayley and Meeko.
"You've learned so much and so quickly!" said May.
"Mm, I can hardly stop working, even to sleep!" he said. "There are so many undiscovered secrets in the world of Pokémon."
"I forgot. I never found out who the new Petalburg Gym Leader is." said Ash.
"Hmm. I don't know." said May.
"Uh?"
"We'll find out when we get there." said Hayley, causing her brother and Pikachu to smile.
"I'm goin' to my first Hoenn region Gym Battle!" said Ash. "And that first badge is mine!"
"Pik! Pikachu!"
"What about us?" asked Hayley.
"Riol! Riolu!" said Meeko.
"We didn't forget, baby sister." said Ash.
"Pikachu." Pikachu said to Meeko.
Narrator: Able to witness the miracle of an ancient Pokémon, Ash, Hayley and May discovered yet another part of the Mysterious Pokémon world!
Hayley: Question…do you think Professor Oak will like this discovery?
Meeko: Riol?
Narrator: There's only one way to find out, Hayley. And that's just the first of many new revelations that await in the Hoenn region!