Having at long last completed her Pokémon Contest, May suggests a day of recreation in Slateport City before moving on. While she and Brock shop in the city's famous market district, Ash and Max check out the Oceanic Museum. When the boys discover the museum is closed (even though it's supposed to be open every day), Max decides to climb the wall to get in--and is mistaken for a thief! Ash and Max explain the situation to Captain Stern, the museum's curator, who lets them take a look inside. He's just gotten a new rock sample, which attracts the attention of both Team Magma and Team Rocket! Ash and Captain Stern manage to repel both groups of villains, but the rock sample is broken in the process. Captain Stern isn't sure what Team Magma is up to, but he decides to continue his studies on the remaining piece of the sample.
