Ash and May are walking to Odale Town so that Ash and May can register for the Pokémon League. Ash offers Pikachu a race to Odale Town. May hollers to them to stop. Ash tells May that she is walking to slow. May mutters to herself that she did have a bike. Ash worries and says that they can slow down. May is happy at Ash's decision.

Ash and May continue their way to Odale Town. May wonders why Pikachu isn't in its Pokéball. Ash says that Pikachu just likes it being beside him. She holds out the Pokéball that contains Torchic. Ash suggests that May looks up Torchic in her new Pokédex. May learns that Torchic is a fire type Pokémon. Ash sees something in the middle of the road. It happens to be an Azurill. May looks up Azurill in her Pokédex. Thinking that it is cute, May throws a Pokéball to capture Azurill. The ball shakes, but Azurill manages to break free. May wonders why the Pokéball didn't work. Ash tells May that she has to first weaken Azurill with a Pokémon. May sends out Torchic. May begins to think of Torchic's attacks. Before she can order an attack, Torchic begins to chase Azurill. Azurill jumps to the side making Torchic knock into a tree. May rushes to Torchic's side asking if it is okay. Torchic recovers and chases Azurill again. They run through some bushes, and then Torchic crashes into a stump. May picks Torchic up and tells it to not run off again. Ash reminds May that she has to catch Azurill. Torchic uses Peck but misses Azurill. Azurill runs off again with Torchic following it. Torchic fires an Ember, but it ends up hitting an Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill. All three Pokémon fire their Water Gun attacks at Torchic, causing it to faint. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt which scares off the water Pokémon.

May picks up Torchic hoping that it will be okay. Ash explains to May that fire Pokémon are weak to water attacks. He tells May that Nurse Joy can heal Torchic in the Pokémon Center. They begin their jog to Odale Town. Upon entering Odale Town, Ash sees a bunch of rocks in the middle of the road. A man walks up to them. He says that the rocks are actually the ruins of Odale Town. The man introduces himself. He is Professor Alden. Ash and May introduce themselves too. When Professor Alden asks where they are going, Ash tells Professor Alden that they are looking for the Pokémon Center. Finding out that the Pokémon Center is not far away, Ash and May rush to it.

At the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy heals May's Torchic. All Torchic needs is some sleep. May feels a lot better. May asks Ash if he can show her around in the Pokémon Center since it's her first time being in one. Ash agrees to this, but first he calls Professor Oak. He tells Professor Oak that he has registered for the Pokémon League and is ready to compete in gym battles. May introduces herself to Professor Oak. She says that her brother is a big fan of him.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is at a pay phone giving their boss a call. They tell him that they are calling from Hoenn. Giovanni expects some good news from Jessie, James, and Meowth. They ask for an advance in their payment. Giovanni snaps at them and says no. However he does tell them that if they can set up a base in the Hoenn region, then they can get some more money. Jessie, James, and Meowth are happy about this. Giovanni tells himself that he wants to learn more about Team Aqua and Team Magma.

Ash shows May around in the Pokémon Center. He shows her the place where trainers sleep, and then he shows her the lobby. In the lobby, trainers share information about Pokémon. One trainer says that there is a new gym leader at the Petalburg Gym. Ash asks the trainer about it. May quickly pulls Ash away and says that she is starving. They dine in at a restaurant in the Pokémon Center. May says that the food is delicious. Ash reminds her that the food is only for the trainers, but May says that she is a trainer. Professor Alden then walks up to them.

Team Rocket is digging a deep hole next to the Pokémon Center. James and Meowth smell the food inside the Pokémon Center. Jessie tells them to keep on digging. Meowth is glad that they will be the number one Team Rocket members once a base is set up. James tells Meowth that they already are number one since they are the only ones in Hoenn. Jessie reminds her friends that Cassidy and Butch will step in if they don't work fast enough. Agreeing to this, Team Rocket begins to dig again.

After dinner, Professor Alden shows Ash and May to his room. A picture of the ruins rests on the wall. Professor Alden explains that a stone chamber lives deep in the ruins. The chamber is suppose to be a portal between the real world and the ancient world. However, entrance to the chamber causes it to crumble, so many people fail to see the inside of it. Professor Alden adds in that ancient Pokémon live in the chamber. Ash wants to meet an ancient Pokémon. Professor Alden shows out a tablet with the correct way in entering the chamber. However, four keys are needed to enter the chamber, and those have not been found yet.

Meanwhile, Team Magma is spying on Professor Alden. One member spots him, and their operation begins. Suddenly, the lights to the Pokémon Center goes out. Team Magma walks in the room with a trio of Houndoom. One Team Magma member tells Professor Alden to lead them to the ruins. Nurse Joy walks in the room, but another member grabs her. Professor Alden changes his mind and decides to lead Team Magma to the ruins. Team Magma shoves Ash, May, and Nurse Joy in a room with the door locked. May wonders what Team Magma wants. Nurse Joy guesses that they want to get inside the chamber. With the power out, all the Pokémon in the Pokémon Center are in danger including May's Torchic. Nurse Joy says that they have to switch over to their reserve power. Pikachu spots an air shaft, a way to escape.

Team Rocket steps out for fresh air. Unfortunately, their tunnel was off by a few inches. Team Magma approaches Team Rocket. Team Magma asks them what they are doing near the Pokémon Center. Team Rocket tells them that they are Team Rocket's top members. Arbok and Weezing are sent out for battle. The Houndoom use Roar causing Arbok and Weezing to go back into their Pokéballs. Team Rocket is scared now and they go back into their tunnel.

Ash and Pikachu walks through the air shack. May catches up to Ash. Pikachu finds the exit. Ash grabs a key from the desk and unlocks the door. May switches the power to reserve. Then Ash and May decide to help Professor Alden. At the ruins, Team Magma tells Professor Alden to help them gain access into the chamber. Professor Alden looks at the door and says that they shouldn't force their way into the chamber. A member of Team Magma holds out the keys that give access into the chamber. All they have to do is find out which key goes in which slot on the door. Professor Alden refuses to help Team Magma. The member assumes that Professor Alden doesn't care about Ash, May, and Nurse Joy back at the Pokémon Center. Professor Alden gives in and places the keys in the correct slot. The door opens and everyone rushes inside. Team Magma records all of the information from the walls. Unfortunately, they did not see anything of what they were looking for. Team Magma retreats. Ash and May sees the helicopter leave.

Team Rocket is also at the ruins. They quietly say their motto. They have the four keys. Ash and co. spots Team Rocket. Professor Alden wants the keys back. Jessie sends out Arbok. Pikachu uses Quick Attack on Arbok. Arbok falls backwards into Jessie, James, and Meowth. They let go of the keys. Then Pikachu uses Thunderbolt. Team Rocket blasts off again.

Professor Alden places the keys back in place. The sun begins to rise. This causes the keys to glow. A light is passed through the chamber. A staircase is revealed. Professor Alden is surprised by this. They decide to walk down the stairs. At the bottom is a huge pool of water. A Relicanth leaps out. Professor Alden is surprised at the ancient Pokémon, Relicanth. Ash and May go back to the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy hands May her Pokéball. Torchic comes out in good shape. May is happy that Torchic is better again. Ash asks Nurse Joy if she found out anything about Team Magma. Nurse Joy tells him that Officer Jenny is doing her best with gathering information, but so far nothing has been found. Professor Alden walks up to Ash and May. He tells them that research shows that humans and ancient Pokémon have acted peacefully so far. Ash and May are happy for Professor Alden.

Ash and May continue their way to Petalburg City. On their way there, Ash realizes that he forgot to ask who the new Petalburg gym leader is. Whoever it is, Ash is ready for his first gym battle.

English Official Summary

Now that Pikachu is feeling better, Ash is ready to head to Oldale Town to sign up for the Hoenn League. May has offered to show Ash the way in exchange for his company to Oldale Town—which is only fair, seeing as Pikachu destroyed May's bike when it was sick! In Oldale Town, May visits her first Pokémon Center and is amazed with all of its services, and by the ancient ruins next door. Things quickly turn sour when Team Magma, a mysterious band of criminals, shut down the electricity at the Pokémon Center and kidnap Professor Alden in order to invade the ruins. With no electricity, all of the Pokémon are in danger—including May's Torchic. It's up to Ash and May to save the day—and in doing so they uncover mysterious, ancient Pokémon.

French Official Summary

Maintenant que Pikachu se sent mieux, Sacha est prêt à continuer son voyage vers Rosyères. Flora a proposé à Sacha de lui indiquer le chemin, en échange de sa compagnie, ce qui est la moindre des choses, étant donné que Pikachu a détruit la bicyclette de Flora à Bourg-en-Vol ! En arrivant au Centre Pokémon, la débutante Flora est étonnée par tous les services qui sont offerts et nos deux héros s’intéressent à des ruines anciennes qui se trouvent dans les environs. L’infirmière Joëlle prend soin de Poussifeu et tout semble aller pour le mieux jusqu’à ce qu’un groupe de bandits en uniformes lance une puissante attaque Coupe et plonge le Centre Pokémon dans l’obscurité complète ! Qui peuvent être ces mystérieux personnages ? Se pourrait-il que nos héros ne soient pas les seuls à s’intéresser à ces anciennes ruines ?

German Official Summary

Nachdem es Pikachu besser geht, will Ash sich in Rosaltstadt in der Hoenn-Liga einschreiben.

Italian Official Summary

Ora che Pikachu si è ripreso, Ash è pronto a raggiungere Solarosa per iscriversi alla Lega di Hoenn.

Portuguese Official Summary

Uma queda de energia no Centro Pokémon leva Ash e sua nova amiga May a fazerem uma descoberta surpreendente!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

¡Una falla eléctrica en el Centro Pokémon lleva a Ash y a su nueva amiga May a hacer un asombroso descubrimiento!

Spanish Official Summary

Ahora que Pikachu se siente mejor, Ash está listo para ir a Pueblo Escaso. Aura se ha ofrecido a mostrarle el camino a cambio de su compañía (lo cual parece justo, ya que Pikachu le destrozó la bici cuando estaba en Villa Raíz). Al llegar al Centro Pokémon, la aprendiz de Entrenadora se queda atónita al ver todos los servicios que ofrecen, y nuestros dos héroes deciden ir a ver unas antiguas ruinas en las proximidades. Con Torchic al cuidado de la Enfermera Joy, parece que todo marcha bien, hasta que aparece un grupo de villanos uniformados que provoca un apagón ¡que deja el Centro Pokémon totalmente a oscuras! ¿Quiénes serán esos turbios personajes? ¿Y es posible que nuestros héroes no sean los únicos interesados en esas antiguas ruinas?

English Great Britian Official Summary

Now that Pikachu is feeling better, Ash is ready to head to Oldale Town to sign up for the Hoenn League. May has offered to show Ash the way in exchange for his company to Oldale Town—which is only fair, seeing as Pikachu destroyed May's bike when it was sick! In Oldale Town, May visits her first Pokémon Center and is amazed with all of its services, and by the ancient ruins next door. Things quickly turn sour when Team Magma, a mysterious band of criminals, shut down the electricity at the Pokémon Center and kidnap Professor Alden in order to invade the ruins. With no electricity, all of the Pokémon are in danger—including May's Torchic. It's up to Ash and May to save the day—and in doing so they uncover mysterious, ancient Pokémon.

Russian Official Summary

Мэй и Эш относят раненного Торчика в центр покемонов Олдэйл Тауна, где Эш регистрируется на состязания Лиги Хоенн. Там они встречают профессора  Элдона, изучающего местные развалины. А в это время Джеймс, Джесси и Мяут получают добро своего босса Джованни на обустройство в Хоенне штаба Команды Р. Джованни хочет собрать информацию о двух враждующих группах - Команде Аква и Команде Магма. Той же ночью, Команда Магма похищает профессора Элдона и заставляет его помочь пробраться в развалины. Они не находят ничего ценного, и Команда Магма уходит. Эш и Мэй успевают дать отпор Команде Р. На восходе солнца секрет развалин раскрывается: тайное озеро, в котором живёт древний покемон.

Dutch Official Summary

Door een stroomstoring in het Pokémon Center doen Ash en zijn vriendin May een verbazingwekkende ontdekking!

Danish Official Summary

Et strømsvigt på Pokémon-centret fører Ash og hans nye veninde May til en forbløffende opdagelse!

Swedish Official Summary

Ett strömavbrott på Pokémon-center leder Ash och hans nya vän May till en förbluffande upptäckt!