"Hmph! Don't try to play innocent! Spheal, go!"The boy struck a dramatic pose, as if auditioning for a superhero movie, and released his Spheal.
"Spheal, Water Gun—aim at those two crooks!"
Spheal flapped its flippers eagerly…
...then blasted the boy himself with Water Gun, soaking him from head to toe.
Ash and Max exchanged looks.(≖_≖ ) "Was that supposed to happen?"(•́ω•̀٥) "I don't think so…"
The boy wiped his drenched face, cheeks red with embarrassment. "Agh—Spheal, not me! Use Water Gun on them!"
But Spheal just clapped excitedly and looked proud of its work.
"…Okay, never mind. Body Slam!" the boy ordered, trying to salvage his dignity.
Spheal sprang toward Ash and Max—but they stepped aside just in time.Spheal hit the wall, bounced back… and cuddled up to its Trainer.
The boy nearly cried.
"This is… honestly painful to watch," Max muttered.
"He's probably just starting out as a Trainer," Ash said with a shrug.
"Pika-chu." Pikachu nodded in agreement.
The boy wasn't done yet. "Spheal, use Blizzard!"
Ash reacted fast. "Ralts, Teleport, then Confusion!"
"Raa~lts!"As Spheal released a chilling blast of ice, Ash and Max blinked out of the way—then Ralts used Confusion to lift both the boy and his Spheal into the air.
"Aah! What the—?! Help! I'm being attacked by evil-doers!" the boy wailed dramatically.
"Enough!"
A stern voice cut through the chaos. A middle-aged man in a suit stepped out from the museum. Ash had already dropped them to the ground.
"Curator Cussler!" the boy shouted. "These guys are thieves! Call Officer Jenny!"
Ash quickly stepped forward. "Wait, this is a misunderstanding! We were just trying to visit the museum!"
After a brief explanation—and a few sheepish looks—the truth came out.
"O-Oh! So that's how it is!" the boy exclaimed. "Sorry! My bad! I'm Marius."
"You didn't even let us explain before you attacked!" Max said, crossing his arms.
"Right… sorry again!" Marius scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
"I'm Stern," the man said. "Curator of the Oceanic Museum. My apologies for the confusion."
"I'm Ash, from Pallet Town. These are Pikachu and Ralts."
"Pika~!""Ralts~!"
"I'm Max! Nice to meet you!"
"The museum is closed today due to an important delivery," Curator Stern explained. "But since you've come all this way… I'd be happy to give you a private tour."
"Seriously?!" Max's eyes sparkled. "Awesome!"
Stern led them through the museum, explaining the exhibits in detail.
"I specialize in Pokémon oceanography," he said. "Everything here reflects my research and discoveries."
The museum displayed detailed models of various Water-type Pokémon—including a life-size Wailord!
"Models help people understand their biology and behavior," Stern added.
"I get it now!" Max nodded, genuinely fascinated.
"I like Goldeen the most," Marius declared proudly. "One day, I'll evolve one into a Gyarados!"
Ash and Max paused.
"…Goldeen doesn't evolve into Gyarados," Max said flatly. "That's Magikarp."
"Hmph, minor details. You'll learn the truth at sea," Marius said, puffing up like he knew better.
Another hopeless student, Ash and Max thought.
Marius then showed them a model of a submarine, explaining that the curator's shipyard was building it in real life.
That explains a lot, Ash thought. This kid's connected.
"By the way," Ash asked, "why was the museum closed today?"
"Well," Stern said, lowering his voice, "follow me."
He led them into his office and opened a box on his desk.
Inside was a charred black stone.
"This was delivered last night," Stern said. "I closed the museum to study it properly."
Ash frowned. "It looks like it was burned…"
"Exactly. But the burn marks weren't made in any volcano. This came from deep underwater. It was scorched by immense heat, possibly caused by a Pokémon."
Max's eyes widened. "That can really happen?"
"Yes. And I suspect this wasn't a natural phenomenon. It might be the work of a Legendary Pokémon…"
Groudon? Ash thought grimly. If that's true… then Team Magma won't be far behind.
Suddenly, a voice echoed outside:"Icy cold shaved ice~ Come get your Slateport City specialty—sweet, refreshing shaved ice!"
The kids perked up immediately."Shaved ice!" Max's eyes sparkled.
"You go ahead," Stern said. "I'm staying to continue studying this stone."
Ash, Max, and Marius stepped outside and headed toward the vendor stand.
"Welcome! Step right up!" the vendor trio called cheerfully.
Ash narrowed his eyes.
He focused his Aura—Yup. Team Rocket.
Ash leaned in and whispered, "You have two options. One, I blast you off. Two, you behave, and we buy shaved ice."
"Pika-chu~" Pikachu added, electricity sparking in warning.
Team Rocket froze. After a beat, they raised their hands and… got to work making shaved ice.
While the group enjoyed their treats, Team Magma attacked the museum.
As Ash had feared, the charred stone was tied to Groudon—and Team Magma wanted it. Leading the attack was none other than Harlan, the same field commander Ash had encountered before.
Despite Stern's best efforts to defend the museum, Team Magma used Mightyena to create thick smoke and escaped with the stone.
But they didn't get far.
As they bolted through the entrance, they came face-to-face with Ash and the others.
"Team Magma!" Ash stepped forward, fists clenched. "You're not going anywhere. Hand over that stone!"
"Hmph! You again? Mightyena, Tackle!"
[Mightyena — Strength: Quasi-Elite Stage]
"Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Pika—CHU!"
Pikachu's glowing steel tail smashed into Mightyena, sending it flying.
"Take him down! Now!" Harlan shouted.
Two more Mightyena charged forward.
"Lairon, Corphish—go!" Ash released both Pokémon. "Use Stone Edge and Bubble Beam!"
The attacks harassed Team Magma, pinning them down.
Ash didn't stop there. "Pikachu—let's finish this!"
He activated the Z-Ring embedded in his universal bracelet and slotted in the Electricium Z.
Together, Ash and Pikachu struck a synchronized pose.
"Gigavolt Havoc!"
Pikachu's small fists surged with electric power, releasing a massive storm of lightning that blasted through the Mightyena and struck Harlan directly.
BOOM!
The stone tumbled to the ground.
"Dammit!" Harlan recalled his Pokémon and turned to flee. "You'll regret this, kid! Team Magma doesn't forget!"
Ash didn't pursue.That sound… A helicopter roared overhead. Even if I chased them, they'd escape by air.
Ash picked up the stone.
Moments later, Stern arrived, out of breath.
Ash handed him the stone.
"Thank you so much," Stern said gratefully. "You've done us a huge favor."
He personally guided Ash and Max through the rest of the exhibits again as a reward.
Before they left, Stern stopped them. "Ash, as a Pokémon Trainer, I think you'll appreciate this."
He handed Ash a glowing stone.
"Wait—is that a Mega Stone?!" Max exclaimed.
"Yes. This is a Swampertite, the Mega Stone for Swampert."
Ash's eyes widened. "But… this is too valuable."
"Take it. That stone Team Magma wanted—if you hadn't been here, they would've succeeded. Compared to that, this is nothing."
Ash gratefully accepted it. "Thank you. I'll use it well."
With that, Ash and Max said their goodbyes and headed off to regroup with Brock and May.
To be continued...