Chapter 364 · Meeting Ash’s Group Again

"Wait for us!"

Just as the cable car doors were about to close, a familiar voice echoed down the platform.

Ash sprinted up the ramp, with May, Brock, and Max struggling to keep up.

"We made it!"

"I'm exhausted… can't run another step," May panted as she and Max clambered aboard.

Ash, who looked perfectly fine, glanced around the cabin—and his eyes lit up.

"Gary! Zinnia!"

Brock and the others followed his gaze and spotted Gary and Zinnia seated on a bench near the window.

"Long time no see. I didn't expect to bump into you here," Gary said, smiling.

The meeting wasn't all that surprising. Both parties were working through the Hoenn Gyms in roughly the same order, so crossing paths sooner or later was inevitable.

"I didn't expect it, either. Are you here to challenge Flannery?" Ash asked.

Three days earlier, he had defeated Wattson at the Mauville Gym, then hurried west. Knowing the cable car departed at nine, he had set out before dawn to reach Lavaridge Town as quickly as possible.

"Hold that car—we need to board, too!"

A man, a woman, and a hunched-over old lady dashed inside at the last second.

To Ash's group, they looked like ordinary tourists—but Gary recognized them immediately: Team Rocket.

His Eye of Insight even tagged the "old lady."

[Lv. 30 Meowth ♂ / Normal]

Combined with Jessie's magenta hair and James's teal locks, their disguises fooled no one—at least not Gary.

"Haha, excuse us," James chuckled as the trio squeezed into a corner.

With a soft jolt, the cable car began its climb. Gary decided not to act. Starting a battle mid-air would endanger everyone onboard.

Jessie, James, and Meowth seemed to reach the same conclusion and merely whispered among themselves.

"What now?" James muttered. "Gary the 'Pokémon Slayer' is here too."

"Let's keep an eye on him before we act," Jessie hissed.

"But think about it," Meowth purred. "If we nab his Pokémon and bring 'em to Boss Giovanni, we'll get promotions for sure!"

The three drifted into rose-tinted daydreams. Meanwhile, Ash, May, Brock, Max, and Gary admired the rugged slopes of Mt. Chimney, paying Team Rocket no heed.

Halfway up the mountain, an alarm klaxon blared. The cable car lurched and then stopped—suspended mid-air.

"Huh? What happened?" May asked, wide-eyed.

"Looks like some kind of malfunction," Brock guessed, eyeing the blinking warning lights.

Team Rocket blinked in confusion. They hadn't done anything yet—so how could the system be down? Even if they stole Pikachu now, escape was impossible while hanging in mid-air.

"There's an emergency phone," Brock said, grabbing the handset.

He dialed the operator—but no one answered.

"Nothing… the line's dead."

"Then how are we supposed to get out of here?" Ash and Max cried. "Are we going to be stuck?"

"Move over—let me try," Jessie snapped.

She yanked the phone away, pounded the buttons, even smacked the cradle a few times. Still nothing.

Now the unit was completely broken.

"Hey, aren't you the tour guide?" Zinnia asked the "old lady" acidly. "The phone's busted—how are we supposed to call for help?"

"Yeah, who are you exactly?" May added, narrowing her eyes.

As soon as May spoke those words, Team Rocket's instincts kicked in.

They launched into their trademark motto, striking poses so wildly that the cable car began to sway.

Ash's group watched in awkward silence.

Gary, meanwhile, kept his gaze on Mt. Chimney's peak, recalling fragments of the Hoenn plotline: Team Magma and Team Aqua would soon clash up there over a meteorite sample.

"Quit fooling around," Gary said coldly. "Cause any trouble and I'll toss you over the side."

"Vee!" Eevee growled at his feet, eyes gleaming.

One look at Eevee—famous from the Indigo Plateau broadcasts—and Team Rocket's bravado disappeared.

They slunk back to their seats without another word.

"Ash, do you have any Pokémon that can fly?" Gary asked.

May and Brock shook their heads. Max didn't even have a Pokémon yet.

"I've got a Taillow, but it can't carry anyone," Ash admitted.

"Forget it. Leave it to me, then," Gary said.

He had expected that answer. Ash's team mainly consisted of recently caught Pokémon from Hoenn, aside from Pikachu.

Gary walked to the back of the cabin, unlatched the service hatch in the ceiling, and pulled a Heal Ball from his pocket.

With a flash of light, he released the Pokémon inside.

"Latios!"

Ash's eyes widened in awe.

"Gary, you actually brought Latios with you?!"