Timothy and Electchu are sitting on Timothy's bed inside his and Coovers' room at the Pokemon Center. The man in the "H.A.K." shirt stares at the floor, feeling broken by losing one of his Pokemon to Team Rocket again. Electchu tries to comfort its friend, but it knows that there's little that it can do for its partner in this situation. Odyssey sits in a corner, devastated to see its close friend be taken away.

As they all sit quietly, Coovers enters the room with a serious look on his face. Timothy and his two Pokemon turn to the man from Unova, who just walks over to his bed and sits down.

"Well?" Timothy asks.

Coovers stays silent for a few seconds before he sighs and faces his friend.

"Whole bunch of people were switching channels to look up the news all over the world," Coovers says. "Many stations were trying to take a census for their respective regions. Nothing is confirmed, but it looks like Giovanni did take control of every single Pokemon in the world that is a complete or part psychic-type."

"Were switching channels?" Timothy queries.

"It looks like Giovanni had Mewtwo make another big storm around all of the regions," Coovers explains. "Any contact beyond the Kanto and Johto regions is completely cut off."

"And the International Police?" Timothy asks.

Coovers winces and says, "I tried contacting Looker and anyone else at headquarters before we got cut off, but there was no reply. I also tried to contact any agents out in the field, but there are none either here or in any of the other regions. It looks like I'm officially all that remains of the International Police."

Timothy hangs his head, overwhelmed. Electchu and Odyssey look at their trainer, unsure of how to react to the horrible information.

"Even here in Kanto and Johto, there are tons of reports of lost Pokemon," Coovers continues. "There's a girl named Macy who lost her Starmie, Misty found out from her sisters in Cerulean City that her Starmie is gone too, Spenser from the Battle Frontier has lost his Claydol, that snobby girl, Giselle, lost her Espeon, the gym leader from Saffron City, Sabrina lost her Alakazam, Anabel has lost her whole team, Ash's mom is missing her Mr. Mime, even Alain has reported to have lost his Metagross. I could go on for hours about trainers who lost their Pokemon, and that's still not taking wild psychic-type Pokemon to account."

Timothy groans and runs his fingers through his hair.

"How could this have happened?" He asks. "I thought Mewtwo erased their memories so that they wouldn't know anything about the Gieldanstone."

"I don't know how," Coovers says. "All I know is Giovanni has it, a fraction of all the Pokemon in the entire world are under his control, he gave us a month to decide whether to give up all of our Pokemon or try to fight against his organization, and there's a large group of people downstairs including our friends who want answers."

Timothy sighs, frustrated by the situation. He keeps his head down before he stands up and looks at Coovers.

"Well, I suppose we should do something starting with explaining things to our friends," he suggests.

Coovers takes a second before he nods and stands up. The two of them exit their room with Electchu and Odyssey and walk down the hall and enter the lobby. Dozens of people, including Serena, Brock, Misty, May, Max, Dawn, Clemont, Bonnie, Iris, and Cilan are there, crowding the whole area while talking amongst themselves. Max is crying over Gallade while May and Bonnie try to comfort him. Iris and Dawn are holding Axew and Piplup close to them tightly, terrified that they might slip out of their hands. Brock is trying to keep a brave face while Serena holds on to Pikachu as she and Misty fight the tears in their eyes over Ash's kidnapping. Timothy and Coovers look at each other before they walk over to the front desk where Nurse Joy is standing behind everyone.

"Attention, everyone!" Coovers shouts. "Could I have your attention please?!"

No one seems to have paid any mind to Coovers.

"I need your attention right now!" Coovers shouts louder.

Again, no one hears him. Coovers grows frustrated until Nurse Joy hands him a mic that connects to the speakers on top of the ceiling.

"Attention!" Coovers shouts through the mic.

The lobby instantly becomes silent, and all eyes turn to Cooves and Timothy.

"Now I know that all of you are all distressed with what just happened," Coovers says through the mic.

"Of course, we are distressed! Some of us just lost our Pokemon!" someone from the audience shouts.

The crowd shouts words of agreement until Coovers speaks again.

"I know, and I know you want an explanation of how Team Rocket was able to do that," Coovers says.

"What? Do you have one?!" A woman shouts.

"As a matter of fact, we do!" Timothy calls out, stepping in.

Brock, Serena, Dawn, and the rest of the gang look at the two men, confused with what they're saying. Coovers and Timothy look at them briefly before they face the entire crowd.

"I am the last member of the International Police," Coovers says through the microphone. "A few months ago, I was assigned a mission to find and retrieve a powerful jewel called the Gieldanstone."

Everyone in the crowd looks at each other, confused as Coovers continues.

"The Gieldanstone is a white jewel that makes Arceus itself obey the will of anyone who holds it," Coovers explains. "It was hidden years ago until the archeologist named Brandon discovered its whereabouts. My superiors suspected that Team Rocket knew about Brandon's discovery and would want their hands on it, so they sent me to find the jewel first with my help of my companion, Timothy Durbin here, after he won the Johto League and defeated the Johto Elite Four and the bi-regional champion."

Brock, Serena, Pikachu, May, Max, and Dawn stare at the two men, uneasy with what their on and off companions are getting at.

"We came across the owner of the Battle Frontier named Scott, who invited Timothy to compete in the Battle Frontier," Coovers continued. "When we learned that competing in the frontier would ultimately lead to us getting the location to Brandon and therefore the Gieldanstone, he accepted Scott's offer.

Timothy takes a moment to give Serena, Brock, and Dawn apologetic looks, knowing that they are hurt that he and Coovers have been lying about their reason to go on their journey.

"Timothy battled his way to Brandon, and with his help, we retrieved the stone only to be ambushed by Team Rocket," Coovers says. "We would have lost the stone if it weren't for the powerful psychic Pokemon that you saw next to Giovanni. This Pokemon who shall not be named followed us so that it could erase all of Team Rocket's memories revolving around the Gieldanstone, and thus we could bring the jewel to International Police headquarters to keep it safe."

"Then how did Team Rocket get this giddystone or whatever and possess all of the psychic-type Pokemon?" Max shouts bitterly with May, and Bonnie trying to calm him down.

"We don't know," Timothy admits. "We're just in the dark about that as you are. For all intents and purposes, there should be no way that Team Rocket has somehow regained their memories and liberated the Gieldanstone from the International Police."

"Then I was right to keep it away from you!"

Everyone turns around to see Brandon walking towards Timothy and Coovers. Electchu and Odyssey give the man hostile looks as Brandon angrily points at Timothy and Coovers.

"My Solrock is gone because of your arrogance!" He barks. "I told you that you can't be trusted with it if you can't stay on guard! It's your fault that Arceus and all the psychic Pokemon are under Team Rocket's control!"

The crowd gasps and then grumbles to each other, giving Timothy and Coovers disapproving glares. Brock, Serena, Pikachu, May, Max, and Dawn are feeling uneasy about their friends. Misty and Iris join in coldly judging the two men while Clemont, Bonnie, and Cilan don't know how to feel.

"You arrogantly claimed that you could keep the Gieldanstone safe, and now it's in Team Rocket's hands!" Brandon continues. "You should have just left well enough alone, but you pridefully tried to prove that you can do better than the depths of the temple where it was protected! Your arrogance has -"

"SHUT UP!!!" Timothy screams.

Everyone looks at Timothy, alarmed as he marches toward Brandon with an exasperated expression on his face.

"Arrogant this, arrogant that, how dare you do this, how dare you do that! I'm this well-known archaeologist who's always on guard, and therefore I know everything! Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!" Timothy rambles childishly. "Do you think pointing your finger at us is going to hide the fact that you have a part in this too?!"

"What?!" Brandon barks angrily.

"You heard him!" Coovers shouts. "Who says we're the only members of the guilty party? After all, it was your idea to determine who gets to keep the Gieldanstone with a Pokemon battle against Timothy!"

The crowd gasps and Bradon's anger against the two men grows.

"Coovers is right!" Timothy shouts. "You were so confident that I would lose to you because of my pride that you didn't consider that I might use your plan against you! You rolled the dice for that stupid jewel the same as me!"

Brandon grinds his teeth and claims, "That doesn't matter! The point is you claimed that you would keep the Gieldanstone safe, and you failed! Now my Solrock is gone, and it's all your fault!"

"Oh, cry me a river about your Solrock!" Timothy yells. "You think you're the only one missing a Pokemon here? Team Rocket took Shockwave away from me, and I couldn't do a thing about it!"

"If you have just let me take it, it would have been safer!" Brandon avers.

"You can't prove Team Rocket doesn't have spies inside your group of archaeologists!" Coovers points out. "They probably have spies in your community too. Heck, that's probably how they found out about you discovering the stone."

Brandon grinds his teeth and barks, "And you think that your -"

"STOP IT!"

Everyone turns around to Serena, glaring at Brandon, Timothy, and Coovers. She walks over to them while still holding Pikachu in her arms with an irate look on her face.

"Stop it all of you!" she shouts. "Fighting over who is more guilty than who is not going to help anyone get their Pokemon back, and it's not going to help Ash!"

The three men look away at each other ashamedly, as if they're little boys being disciplined by their mother. The lobby becomes silent for a minute before Brock clears his throat and steps in.

"Serena is right!" he declares. "We're not helping anyone by standing here and bickering at each other. We've got to do something for the sake of our Pokemon and the entire world!"

"I agree!" Max exclaims. "I'm not going to give up my Pokemon when I have a chance to fight for them!"

"Neither will I!" Dawn announces.

"Piplup!" Piplup chirps.

"Agreed!" Misty shouts.

"I won't let Team Rocket try to take Dedenne away from me!" Bonnie shouts, holding her bag containing Dedenne close.

"De, ne, ne," Dedenne agrees.

"No one is taking my Pokemon away from me!" Iris backs.

"Axew!" Axew shouts

"Nor me!" Cilan declares.

"Me neither!" Clemont declares.

The rest of the people cheer loudly in agreement.

"No!" Brandon shouts sharply.

Everyone looks at the Pyramid King, confused.

"What do you mean, no? We have to fight!" Misty says.

"If you charge into their headquarters, you will surely lose," Brandon points out. "Just with all the psychic Pokemon in the world, they outnumber you 1,000 to 1."

Timothy frowns and turns his back on everyone. He looks at Electchu and Odyssey, who are both afraid of what might come. The look on Electchu, in particular, reminds Timothy of the fear in its eyes when it was just a Pikachu, and it was being tortured by Team Rocket. It's all too clear to him that his partner is afraid to be in Team Rocket's hands again. The man in the "H.A.K." shirt frowns, and his hands turn into balls of fists as the memory of the day Team Rocket stole his Pokemon fills his mind.

"But we have to do something," Iris protests to Brandon. "We can't just give up on our Pokemon."

"I'm not saying that," Brandon says. "But fighting against an army like that isn't the only way."

"You're wrong, Brandon."

Everyone turns to Timothy, who turns to face them with a look of resolve on his face.

"The only option we have is to fight," he says. "For 18 years, I've been training and battling with my Pokemon and watch others train and battle with theirs. Win or lose, we have all learned to become stronger with the bonds that we share with our Pokemon. But Team Rocket has never believed in the importance of that. As far as any of them are concerned, Pokemon are just living instruments put on this planet to serve and nothing else. And because of that, they've been stealing other people's Pokemon, and therefore stealing their hopes and dreams with the creatures that have become family and friends to them. I had my Pokemon stolen from me by Team Rocket on my first year as a trainer, and if I hadn't tracked them down to save them, I wouldn't be the person I am today, and my Pokemon wouldn't be who they are now either. Many people are not as fortunate as I am because Team Rocket has been allowed to stay around for this long."

People in the crowd look at each other and murmur words of agreement.

"We have had to deal with Team Rocket in some way or another over the years," May admits with Max, Dawn, Clemont, Bonnie, Iris, and Cilan nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, and they've caused a lot of damage in the process," Misty says.

"And who knows what kind of damage they will create if they do obtain all of the Pokemon in the world?" Brock points out.

"That's right," Timothy says. "So since Team Rocket started here in Kanto, we as a region are to blame for letting Team Rocket grow as much as it has. It only fits that we have no choice but to gather every trainer willing to do anything to keep their hopes and dreams alive from here to Johto and fight. Together, we will bring down the evil organization once and for all!"

"YES!" Everyone but Brandon cries out.

"But you're talking about gathering people and Pokemon from two regions to just charge in there with no strategic planning," Brandon points out.

"Not necessarily," Timothy says. "If anything, Giovanni was a fool to give us a complete layout of his tower and the land that connects to it."

"What do you mean?" Bradon asks.

"Think about it, Brandon. We're Pokemon trainers," Timothy says. "And good Pokemon trainers don't just choose one of his or her Pokemon to fight and hope for the best. They strategize. They consider their Pokemon's strengths and weaknesses and think of the best way to overcome the obstacles."

Clemont hums in thought before he snaps his fingers.

"I think I get what you're saying," he says with a smile. "If we're going to win, we have to come up with a specific battle plan against Team Rocket with the Pokemon we have and where they are."

"Yes! Exactly!" Timothy happily exclaims, pointing at Clemont. "If we come up with a plan from knowing what Pokemon from both sides have and the environment of the battlefield, that could ultimately overcome their forces, and thus we take them down and free Ash and all of our Pokemon."

"And what of the Gieldanstone?" Brandon questions. "Giovanni still has it to control Arceus."

Timothy turns to the archaeologist and smirks.

"We made the mistake of believing the jewel simply has to be hidden away just like Arceus and the people from ancient times did," he states. "If we just take the stone from Giovanni, it might mean nothing if someone in the future succeeds where people like Giovanni or that emperor did not."

Coovers nods in understanding and says, "So, if we are to prevent that, we have no choice but to destroy the Gieldanstone. If we do that, then Arceus will be free, and no one can use a device like that to use Arceus for their own means ever again."

Brandon thinks about it for a moment and nods in approval.

"What about the International Police?" Iris questions. "They could be inside the building."

"Axew," Axew says with a nod.

Coovers frowns and says, "If they are, then we will need a small group to sneak our way into their headquarters during the fighting and free them. They might even aid us in taking down Giovanni while his people are fighting outside."

"But how are you going to do that?" Cilan asks. "You could be spotted somehow during the fighting."

"Not if they're focusing on something else," Misty says with a smirk on her face.

"Uh, what are you implying, Misty?" Max asks, concerned with the look on Misty's face.

"Well, if we're talking about strategy and the advantages of certain Pokemon, then there's even less of a reason to charge at Team Rocket all at once," Misty says. "Team Rocket's base is surrounded in water, and so if we gather enough water Pokemon from both trainers and from the sea below, we can muster a force to flank Team Rocket's forces from behind. So while Team Rocket are focused on being attacks from both sides, this small squad in question can sneak into their headquarters."

"So basically you would be using a force of water Pokemon as both a flanking maneuver and a diversion," Timothy says with a smirk. "Pretty devious idea, Misty."

"Yeah, but the storm that Mew - er, the powerful psychic Pokemon has created is so powerful that it could seriously hurt you and your water Pokemon if you try to swim your way there," Coovers says worriedly, trying to keep Mewtwo's identity a secret from the crowd.

"Not if we go underwater," Misty points out. "With the right underwater equipment, we can swim underneath the storm with our Pokemon. Plus, I'm willing to bet Team Rocket wouldn't want the storm to be near their headquarters, so it will be safe to reach the surface and enter the mainland."

Timothy, Coovers, and Brandon look at each other and nod.

"Sounds plausible to me," Brandon says.

"Me too," Timothy says.

"Me three," Coovers says. "Now, if it's all the same to you, I'll lead the small squad since I want to save the entire force I'm a part of."

Everyone nods at Coovers, showing no objections.

"So, with that comes figuring out who will go with me," he continues.

"Pikachu and I are going," Serena says without hesitating.

Everyone turns to the honey blonde girl holding Pikachu with Brandon looking skeptical.

"Young lady, we're talking about a dangerous mission," he says. "I doubt you can handle -"

"I don't care if I have to single-handedly face Arceus," Serena states. "Ash is in there, and Pikachu and I want to free him."

"Pikachu!" Pikachu loudly agrees.

"Are you sure about this, Serena?" Coovers asks. "I'm not saying no, but Brandon has a point. Going on this mission with me will be risky."

"Everything we're going to do against Team Rocket is risky," Serena points out. "Besides, Team Rocket specifically saw Ash as an obstacle to remove. Not you, or Timothy, or any of the most powerful Pokemon trainers in the world, just Ash."

"That's a good point," Dawn admits.

"So what if they did?" a person from the crowd points out. "Sure, he won the Indigo League and all, but a lot of people have won a Pokemon league over the years, so logically, there's nothing special about him."

The crowd all say words of agreement until Serena turns to them with an angry look on her face.

"Ash is special!" she shouts. "He treasures all of his friends and Pokemon and faces everything with a positive attitude! Whatever the reason, it's obvious Team Rocket knows that there's something special about Ash just like me and all of our friends!"

Misty, Brock, May, Max, Dawn, Piplup, Clemont, Bonnie, Iris, Axew, Cilan, Timothy, Coovers, Electchu, and Odyssey all shout words or sounds of agreement.

"So if they see Ash as a threat, then Pikachu and I are going to do whatever we can to free Ash and help him do what he has to do to stop Team Rocket once and for all!" Serena continues. "He told me years ago to not give up until it's over, and I'm not planning to give up as long as he needs Pikachu and me. Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaims.

"Yeah, you tell 'em, Serena!" Dawn cheers.

"Piplup!" Piplup shouts.

"Beautifully said," Cilan says.

"Yay, Serena and Pikachu!" Bonnie shouts.

"We'll be counting on you two," May says.

"What my sister said," Max says.

"Do what you gotta do, Serena," Iris encourages.

"Axew!" Axew cheers.

"Yeah, you go save Ash," Brock says with a stuffy smile.

"Yes, bring him back safe and sound," Misty says.

Serena turns to Misty, and the two of them give each other a friendly look. Serena knows Misty would want to rescue Ash, too, but her mind is set to lead the water Pokemon into battle. And while Misty still sees no hope for Serena's wishes to be with Ash, she respects her determination to help him no matter what so long as the boy they both care for will ultimately be rescued. They keep looking at each other until Coovers speaks.

"Well, when you put it all like that, how can I refuse?" he says with a smile. "Now, we'll just have to figure out who else should go."

"True, but getting back to strategy, I recommend we should have a medical unit for injured Pokemon during the battle," Brock says.

Brandon nods and says, "Excellent idea. Though many injuries typically take time to properly heal a Pokemon before they can fight again."

"I'm well aware of that as a doctor-in-training," Brock says seriously. "But if we gather every doctor and nurse we have in Kanto and Johto, and create some sort of...healing camp somewhere away from the battle, people can bring their injured Pokemon, and we can heal them as soon as possible so that they can get back to the fight. If anything, having a place to restore the health of Pokemon will be something Team Rocket won't have, which could ultimately work to our advantage."

"That's very true," Coovers says.

Timothy nods and says, "So just from this discussion, we already have a main force, a flank maneuver, the beginning of a squad to infiltrate their base to rescue the International Police and Ash, and a medical camp. Call me quick to judge, but I think we're off to a good start in planning the means to take down Team Rocket. Wouldn't you agree, Brandon?"

Brandon hesitates for a moment and says, "Yes, it sounds like the beginning of what may be our best chance of stopping Team Rocket. If this is what it will take to protect our Pokemon and save the world, then we will fight."

Everyone in the group cheers before Timothy turns to everyone else in the lobby.

"So what are we waiting for?" he says. "It's time to destroy Team Rocket! Who's still with us?"

The crowd roars in response, and the man in the "H.A.K." shirt grins.

"Alright then, let's move!" he says. "Contact everyone you know from either Kanto or Johto and tell them to join us. We've got an army to build, a battle plan to further develop, and we have exactly one month to take the enemy down with both!"

The crowd cheers again before they rush to the video phones on the other side of the lobby. They wait in line as they take turns contacting as many people as they can. Timothy smiles while Electchu and Odyssey walk over to him with their own smiles on their faces.

"Raichu!" Electchu exclaims.

"Luca!" Odyssey says.

Timothy turns to his Pokemon and kneels down to give both of them a hug.

"We're going to save Shockwave, guys," he promises. "We're going to save them all."