Cinnabar Beach shimmered with its white sands glistening in the sun. It had been a very relaxed few days for Ash and Misty, who had decided to take a break after the events of their confrontation with Team Rocket. Misty, wearing a pink and white bikini, was building a sandcastle with the help of Psyduck, while Ash tried to teach Pikachu how to surf. In those days, Cinnabar Island held a summer festival, one of the most attractive events being the Pokémon surfing competition, which Ash wanted to participate in to have something to do next to Pikachu. Misty was interested in the well-being of the Tentacool that lived in the coral reefs near the island, she was worried that there might be some rabid Tentacool left that could attack humans, so they both had enough distractions to occupy their minds and manage their feelings better and the turmoil they had faced weeks ago on Cerulean.

The situation had gradually improved, with fewer and fewer motorcycle gangs being seen on the roads, and Team Rocket seemed to have disintegrated forever. The economy wasn't improving, but it hadn't gotten worse either, so Kanto seemed to be slowly heading towards the much-desired peace and stability after recent years full of chaos and uncertainty. Brock had returned to Pewter's gym to continue taking care of it and recovering from his injuries.

Gary had resigned from his position at the Viridian Gym out of shame at having been part of the corruption ring headed by the late Mark Darkwood (although in the end, Lance had conceded to pardon him of the charges against him at Ash's suggestion), and Ash had received an offer from the Pokémon League to take over the compound, which he had accepted but before, he had prioritized his peace of mind and spending some time with his girlfriend. He really needed to distract himself and start getting his life back on track. His mother's grief, although he was coping much better, still needed to be fully processed and overcome. Misty for her part had begun to open up more to Ash about her past and life with her parents before they disappeared from the lives of young Williams and her sisters.

-Come on Pikachu, you'll love this, you'll be able to compete in the surfing championship in three days! You have to keep your balance better! - the little mouse kept rocking on the board, looking for the best position to remain stable. Misty looked at them fondly as Psyduck awkwardly picked up a bucket of sand to continue building the castle. A buzz made the duck Pokémon jump, it dropped the bucket of sand and awkwardly hit the castle with one of its flippers, knocking it down:

"Psyduck, we'll have to start all over again!" Misty snorted, resigned. "Come on, we'll make a bigger castle this time!" A Tentacool had come up to the beach and was looking curiously at Pikachu and Ash. He had been the one to emit the buzz that had startled Psyduck. Pikachu had finally managed to balance on the surfboard. It swayed playfully on the gentle waves. After a few hours in which Psyduck knocked down the castle two more times much to Misty's dismay and Pikachu more safely mastered his movements on the waves, they decided to leave for the coral reefs aboard Lapras. The old formation that shone in the sun with its beautiful iridescence was not far from the beach. The Tentacools received Misty with great joy, after she used her Corsola to explain what she was coming for. While the girl was underwater examining the Tentacool, Ash was absentmindedly looking at the horizon. A strange light distracted him from boredom. He had sworn that he had seen a reflection similar to that of the reefs moving over the horizon. Perhaps his eyes had deceived him, but he saw it again. The reefs couldn't do that. A while later, Misty emerged:

-Well, it seems that the Tentacool in this area are doing well. I have told them that if they notice any anomaly in the colonies that live on the nearby reefs they can spread the word and I will come immediately. But I'm still not satisfied...- she snorted.- I think tomorrow I'll go for a walk around the other colonies to continue investigating.-

"I'll help you, Lapras maybe I can talk to the Tentacool" Ash pointed out. The truth is that he found it a bit boring to wait and he preferred to take some action into his hands.-

-That would make me very happy, Ash.- the girl blushed while her boyfriend helped her get on Lapras's back.- Enough for today, I think we should go back to the hotel, I'm starving!-

The return to Cinnabar was fairly smooth. As Misty showered Pikachu with cuddles and congratulated him on learning how to surf, Ash caught sight of it again. That curious blaze of colors floated on the Cinnabar shoreline. It couldn't be a coral rock: he had seen it clearer than ever. What if it was a Pokémon in trouble? He didn't have his Pokédex at hand, he left it at the hotel. But he had Pokéballs in his backpack, in case he had to capture it and take it to the Pokécenter... And suddenly, it vanished as fast as it had appeared.

-Did you see it, Misty?- The young woman was surprised by her boyfriend's words.-

"No, not at all, what do you mean, Ash?" The trainer turned around, trying to look again for that mysterious object. They were getting closer to the beach.

-I saw...something shiny. It didn't look like any Pokémon I had seen before. It shone like a coral reef...-

"That sounds interesting," Misty smiled. "But anyway, if it's a new species, it would be good to be careful..."

There was no news until they were a few yards from the Cinnabar arena. And he saw it again, this time clearer than ever. It was a sphere of all kinds of colors, flashing and flashing like strobe lights. A strange buzzing sound emerged from that mysterious creature. Ash ordered Lapras to slow down as the object moved in front of them randomly.

"What is... that..." Misty immediately clung to her boyfriend's back. "I've never seen anything like it."

-I've never seen a thing like that either, Misty. We must be careful. Pikachu, on guard!- Ash exclaimed.- We don't know what intentions that...being has.- The little electric mouse raised its ears, ready to defend its master if necessary. The sphere kept frolicking on the surface of the sea, paying no attention to Lapras and the youngsters. And suddenly, without warning, it shot up into the deep blue sky and charged back at full speed to where Ash was.

-Oh! It's coming this way!- Misty yelled, scratching Ash on the back without meaning to.

-Pikachu, I don't know what kind of creature that is, but you must attack if necessary!-

-Pika-pi!- answered the electric Pokémon without taking its eyes off the sphere. As the object descended to hit Lapras, Pikachu's electric shock hit him full on. The being stepped back a bit, confused by the attack. And again, he shot out to attack again.

-Hmm!. Pikachu, you know what to do!- Ash pointed out as the sphere came down again for an attack. Pikachu's attack hit the being again, which this time looked weakened after receiving the thunder from the electric mouse. Ash's Pokéball hit it, going into it immediately. Ash picked up the Pokéball that was floating on the calm sea. Something in him made him feel distrustful towards that mysterious being that he had just caught.

"You caught it Ash!" Misty spoke as they descended from Lapras on the beach. "However, it's a very strange Pokemon, you might need to talk to Professor Oak to show it to him." Perhaps he has more information about this species...-

-I'll do it that way.- the young man muttered.- They couldn't finish speaking because an older man with dark glasses and a huge white mustache interrupted them:

-Ha! What a pleasure to have you here, young Ketchum and his girlfriend!- Blaine had suddenly arrived at the beach. So the rumors were true...- he stated, looking at Ash with interest through his dark glasses.-

-What do you mean, Blaine? - Misty asked.- Nice to see you again!-

-My trainers say they have seen a very strange Pokemon, a sphere of energy that haunts the beaches that are on the way to the Seafoam Islands. But today I have confirmed it. I'm surprised, Ash, you managed to catch him.-

"Thank you, Mr. Blaine." Ash blushed with embarrassment. "But I think it will be of interest to Professor Oak." On the other hand, though, I'm intrigued by what kind of abilities he might have. I had never seen a Pokémon like that.-

-I agree with that. Old Oak will surely be interested.- The old leader of the Cinnabar gym made a conciliatory gesture.- Hey, don't you like to go eat? I invite you. I've found a wonderful sushi restaurant!- Ash and Misty accepted the invitation and marched Blaine off the beach. As they walked away, Ash swore he had seen another one of those mysterious Pokémon fly over the coastline that led to Route 20.