"Hello? Is anyone here? Excuse us!" Ash and his group stepped inside.
Though the cave room was small, it was fully equipped—with computers, bookshelves, tables, and chairs. Plush toys of Azurill and Zigzagoon sat on the table, adding a cozy, homey atmosphere.
"This place is... really something!" May looked around in surprise.
"It even has a personal computer!" she gasped.
Max walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a volume. "Whoa~ This one's titled Winning Strategies for Pokémon Battles!"
"Really? There's a book like that?" May leaned in, equally surprised.
"Stop!" a small voice suddenly cried.
Everyone turned to see a timid boy standing near a Nincada. He looked nervous but mustered his courage to shout, "You can't just barge into my secret base without permission!"
"Ah! That's a Nincada!" Brock noted.
"So this is a secret base..." Max said, eyes wide.
"Sorry, we didn't know," Ash said, apologizing politely.
But the boy wasn't having it. His voice trembled with emotion. "Get out! Get out right now!"
"We really didn't mean any harm!" May tried to explain.
"I'm not listening! Nincada, use Fury Swipes!" the boy nearly burst into tears as he chased them out. Slam! The door closed behind them.
Ash and his friends had no choice but to leave.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket—who had overheard everything—snuck in once the boy left. They kicked him out, kept Nincada for themselves, and promptly claimed the base as their own. Then, as always, they tried calling Giovanni.
On the other side, Ash and the others entered another cave and were thrilled to see a group of Golbat hanging from the ceiling.
"That was awesome! I've never seen so many Golbat at once!" Max exclaimed.
"Well, Golbat usually sleep during the day," Professor Birch explained.
Just then, May froze mid-step. She spotted a familiar figure sitting on a rock. "Wait a minute… that's the boy from before, isn't it?"
Ash and the others turned to look—it was the same boy from the secret base.
"Sorry for intruding earlier," Ash stepped forward politely. "Hi, I'm Ash from Pallet Town. What's your name?"
"Pikachu~" Pikachu chirped.
"I… I'm Keanu," the boy muttered. His eyes were red as if he'd been crying.
"What happened to your Nincada?" Max asked, hitting a nerve.
Keanu broke down in tears. "It… it got stolen by some bad people!"
"Was it a man, a woman, and a talking Meowth?" Ash asked sharply.
Kazuki nodded.
"Ugh! Team Rocket again! They're the worst!" May fumed.
Keanu lowered his head. "I've never once won a Pokémon battle…"
Everyone blinked.
"You've never won?" Max asked in disbelief.
Keanu glared at him.
"Ah—sorry!" Max quickly apologized, startled.
"I love Pokémon, but I hate battling. I've lost so many times, I just gave up. I built that secret base so I could hide away from everything."
"You made it yourself?" Max asked.
Keanu shook his head. "No… Nincada helped me build it. It was our little world, just for the two of us. No one else."
Unable to hold back, May exploded. "You can't battle without an opponent! Pokémon battles aren't just about winning or losing. You catch Pokémon, you grow with them—you fight together! Crying and running away won't change anything!"
Ash and Brock nodded. She was absolutely right—in theory, at least.
Max muttered, "Says the girl who dodges battles whenever she can…"
"Why you—!" May pouted, nearly toppling over from Max's jab.
Ash stepped forward. "Keanu, how about we go get your Nincada back together?"
Kazuki's eyes lit up. "Really? Thank you, Ash!"
Back at the ruined secret base, Team Rocket had been kicked out by another group—Team Magma. The red-uniformed criminals used a drill vehicle to bust a tunnel through the cave wall.
Ash and his friends arrived at the destroyed base. Tables, chairs, and equipment were smashed, and a massive tunnel led deeper inside.
"No… my secret base!" Keanu's voice trembled with heartbreak.
"This is horrible," May said.
"We have to find Nincada," Keanu said, now more determined.
"Let's go," Ash said. "Maybe they left a clue."
They followed the tunnel and soon entered a vast underground ruin, with towering structures stretching toward the cavern ceiling.
"I can't believe there's such a massive ruin under this island," Professor Birch said in awe.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed nearby.
They turned toward the explosion and saw two groups—Team Magma and Team Aqua.
Standing on one side was a man in a red uniform next to a Mightyena. On the other, five Team Aqua members in blue wetsuits stood near the water, accompanied by a Carvanha. Leading them was a tall, shapely woman with long, wavy red hair.
"What are they doing here?" Ash muttered. He remembered their uniforms from before—these were the same organizations he'd once turned in to Officer Jenny. The anime's version of this ruin was mostly filler—just a backdrop for introducing both villain teams.
"You've done well, Team Magma," the Aqua leader said mockingly.
"Izumi… so it really is you," replied the Team Magma captain, Tabitha.
"I'll handle things here. The rest of you, spread out. Don't start unnecessary fights—just complete the mission," Izumi ordered her team.
She and Tabitha continued their verbal sparring, showing clear disdain for each other.
"They really don't get along," May whispered.
Professor Birch furrowed his brow. "I've heard of them. They use Pokémon for criminal purposes. But what are they looking for in this ruin?"
"Let's hold back and listen. There are too many of them—we shouldn't rush in," Ash suggested. Most of his stronger Pokémon weren't with him; charging in would be reckless.
They all nodded.
Tabitha spoke into his radio. "This is Flame One. Aqua's infiltrated the interior? No matter. Continue the operation."
Then, turning to Izumi, he asked, "What if you find nothing? Only the power we seek?"
"And if you do find it?" Izumi replied smoothly. "Could you even control it?"
"Don't tell me you've brought the Red Orb!" Tabitha taunted.
"If I had, what would you do?" Izumi asked back.
They stared each other down until Izumi finally said, "Unfortunately, I'm not qualified to wield it yet. And I doubt you are, either."
Ash, watching from above, rolled his eyes. So they're already hunting for the Red and Blue Orbs. These guys really think they can control Groudon and Kyogre? They're clueless. If it were me, I'd go for Rayquaza every time.
Just then, Tabitha's walkie-talkie buzzed: "This is Flame Two. We've searched the ruin—no sign of 'G' anywhere."
Tabitha frowned. "Understood. Everyone withdraw."
"Yes, sir."
Izumi laughed, "Looks like you came all this way for nothing."
But then her own walkie-talkie buzzed: "This is Twister A. No signal from 'K' inside either. Our team thinks this isn't the Awakening Shrine—just a ceremonial tower built for blessings."
That completely deflated her.
"Understood," she sighed. "Withdraw."
Tabitha chuckled, "So… nothing for either of us."
"Ugh. This place is a waste," Izumi agreed.
The two teams exchanged cold glares before leaving in opposite directions.
Ash's group began whispering among themselves.
"What were they even looking for?" Max asked.
"No idea," Ash said casually. He didn't want to say too much. Suddenly, they heard some familiar voices nearby—Team Rocket!
"Woohoo! Those creeps are finally gone!" Jessie shouted.
James held Nincada, now bundled in white thread. "In the end, they didn't even take anything."
Meowth added, "Let's start treasure hunting! Meow~!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"Nincada, help us search for treasure too, okay?" Jessie said with a grin.
"Wait!" Keanu stepped forward. "Nincada!"
Ash's group peeked from the ledge.
"Give Nincada back!" Ash demanded.
"Noctowl, use Confusion to lower us down!"
Noctowl gently floated them to the ground.
"Hey! Don't come down here!" Team Rocket protested. "We haven't even found any treasure yet!"
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack and Iron Tail—rescue Nincada!"
"Pika-pika!" Whoosh—snap! Pikachu cleanly cut the threads holding Nincada.
"Ugh, not again! Ash!!"
"Kazuki, now's your turn!" Ash said.
"But I…" Keanu hesitated.
"You have to believe in Nincada!"
Nincada turned and smiled at him.
"Okay… Nincada, use Secret Power!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pikachu—CHUUUU!"
The lightning struck Team Rocket in unison with Nincada's energy beam.
"Not again—blasting off!""Wobbu–fffff~!"
Later, Professor Birch submitted a report to the League. Ash and Keanu had a friendly battle—Ash deliberately used weaker Pokémon to give Kazuki a fair shot. Afterward, Quilava reached the peak of Superior rank!
Defeating Team Rocket gave Keanu the confidence he needed—and he decided to rebuild his secret base.
To be continued...