Chapter 289: Oldale Ruins
After ending their fantasy, the Team Rocket Trio decided to use their long-time skill—digging tunnels.
Of course, their target was not Pikachu, but the food inside the Pokémon Center.
"The smell of the curry rice and omurice is so fragrant, Meowth～"
Meowth and James held their shovels, intoxicated by the aroma wafting from the Pokémon Center's food.
Jessie, whose shovel was practically smoking from use, looked back and saw James and Meowth slacking off, so she roared angrily: "Hey, hey, hey! You two, hurry up and dig! I'm starving to death!"
"Coming, we're coming right away!"
Hearing this, James and Meowth flew to join the digging team.
Meanwhile.
After finishing dinner, Ash and May followed Mr. Mez to his studio, which he had set up inside the Pokémon Center.
Looking at the photos of the ruins hanging on the wall, May asked curiously: "Mr. Mez, is the ruin in this photo the same one we saw today?"
"Yes! To study the Oldale Ruins, I specifically set up a research institute here. There is a stone chamber above the ruins, and legend has it that it might be a gateway connecting the ancient Pokemon world to our world," Professor Mez explained.
Ash asked: "There should be records inside the ruins on how to open it, right?"
"There are, but I haven't found the key to open the stone chamber yet."
As Professor Mez spoke, he took a stone slab from the table behind him.
Outside the studio.
Team Magma, who had already set their sights on Professor Mez, had begun their operation.
Following the order from the Team Magma leader, the power to the Pokémon Center was cut, and the Pokémon Center was instantly plunged into darkness.
"Is this a power outage?" May asked, puzzled.
Click～
The next second, the door to the studio was broken open by Team Magma, and three Team Magma members rushed in with three Houndoom.
"Who are you?" Mez demanded.
"Professor Mez, I would like to trouble you to come with us to the Oldale Ruins."
The lead Team Magma member said.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt to teach them a lesson."
Ash immediately issued the attack command.
Pikachu didn't ask any questions and used Thunderbolt on those three guys.
Zzzzt～
"Numb... I'm numb～"
The three Team Magma members and the Houndoom they brought were instantly paralyzed on the ground by the electricity.
Ash continued: "Pikachu, they have accomplices outside, don't let them get away."
"Pika～"
Less than three seconds after Pikachu dashed out the door, yellow lightning lit up outside.
Then, several screams were heard.
"Mr. Mez, this power outage must be their doing. Let's tie them up first, then contact Officer Jenny to come and handle it," Ash suggested.
"Hmm... Okay!"
Mez took a rope from the corner and worked with Ash to tie up the Team Magma members.
May, who had witnessed the whole process, was completely confused.
"Mr. Mez, I am truly sorry..."
At this moment, Nurse Joy walked over with a flashlight.
Ash didn't wait for Nurse Joy to finish speaking and interrupted: "Nurse Joy, you came just in time. Please contact Officer Jenny and have her take these Team Magma guys away."
"Ah... Oh, okay, I'll go right away."
Nurse Joy didn't think too much about it and did as Ash said.
After Nurse Joy left, Ash found the four orbs to open the Oldale Ruins on the Team Magma members.
"Ash, what is that in your hand?" May asked curiously.
"This is the key to open the Oldale Ruins. Mr. Mez, let's go to the Oldale Ruins and take a look."
Mez glanced at the orbs in Ash's hand, then compared them with the records on the stone slab, and said excitedly: "Okay!"
Ash grabbed one of the Team Magma members and brought him along.
Anyway, there was no information in the Oldale Ruins about Groudon or Kyogre. Bringing him to see it would help him give up, saving them from harassing the Relicanth beneath the Oldale Ruins after he left.
On the way to the Oldale Ruins, May looked at Ash, puzzled, and asked: "Ash, how did you guess that these guys would have the key on them?"
"It's very simple. They said it themselves. Mr. Mez has been studying the Oldale Ruins here for so long; he found the clues to open the door but couldn't find the key. And these guys wanted to take Professor Mez to the ruins the moment they arrived. Doesn't that just show that the key was in their hands?" Ash explained.
The brought-along Team Magma member asked coldly: "Kid, you seem to know a lot about us?"
Ash lowered his voice and said: "I wouldn't say I know you well, but I can tell you the truth: many of your actions are just a waste of effort. The legendary Pokemon Groudon and Kyogre of the Hoenn region are simply not existences that Team Magma and Team Aqua can covet. Your actions will only lead to your own destruction in the end."
Hearing Ash expose the secrets of his organization, the Team Magma member looked unconvinced and snorted: "Hmph!"
Under Mez's guidance, they soon arrived in front of a stone door covered in stripes. "We're here. This is that stone chamber."
Ash handed over the orbs to open the door. "Mr. Mez, take a look and see how to open it."
"Okay!"
With excitement, Mez embedded the orbs into the corresponding places according to the layout.
After the orbs were placed, the patterns on the stone door lit up with a faint glow, and the next second, the stone door retreated rapidly inward.
After they entered, they saw that the walls of the stone chamber were covered with murals of ancient Pokemon: Aerodactyl, Kabutops, Omastar, and so on.
The Team Magma member scanned the room, but finding no information on Groudon, a hint of disappointment flashed across his face.
"Professor Mez, this depicts scenes of ancient people and Pokemon living together, right?" Ash asked.
He really didn't understand ancient scripts, but the pictures on the murals were quite vivid.
Mez nodded and said: "Yes, the content of these murals is scenes of ancient humans and Pokemon getting along."
As the sun rose, the stone door that had the orbs embedded in it emitted white light again, and the white light spread throughout the entire stone chamber.
Immediately, the stone door moved back another meter or so, revealing a passage leading underground.
"What is this?" May poked her head out and looked down curiously.
Ash smiled and said: "There is another space below. Let's go in; there is no danger inside."
After they went down, they saw an underground Lake. Unlike ordinary Lakes, the water in this Lake was seawater.
"I didn't expect there to be an underground water vein down here!" Mez said excitedly.
Smelling the unique scent of seawater, May exclaimed: "It's the smell of seawater!"
Ash pointed to the Relicanth in the water: "That's not all, Mr. Mez, look!"
"That is... the ancient Pokemon Relicanth!"
After seeing the ruins, Ash and May brought the Team Magma member and returned to the Pokémon Center.
When they returned, they saw Officer Jenny escorting the remaining Team Magma members onto a vehicle... well, along with the Team Rocket Trio, who were clearly stuffed from overeating.
"Ash, May, you're back. How were the ruins?" Nurse Joy asked.
May smiled and said: "The ruins are great. Professor Mez is doing research there."
"It's good that everything is fine."
Ash pushed the Team Magma member in front of Officer Jenny and said: "Officer Jenny, this is also a member of Team Magma."
Officer Jenny said politely: "Okay, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Ash!"
"It was just a small favor. By the way, Officer Jenny, a living Relicanth was found in the Oldale Ruins. Professor Mez is still there, so please contact the League to send someone to guard the ruins," Ash reminded.
Although Relicanth is not a very strong Pokemon, that doesn't stop those with collecting obsessions from putting out bounties.
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