While doing his training, Liam heard footsteps approach. It was getting close to time for Liam to go to battle. He hastily recalled his Pokémon and turned around to see Ash standing there with his friends. They briefly talked. Ash noted that he didn't know what he would do next. So he like would be heading home after Serena is done with the Pokémon Showcases. Prof Oak had also arrived. He was looking for Liam to see why he hadn't come back yet. A metallic arm reached down to grab Pikachu off of Ash's head. Seeing it, Liam quickly shoved Ash out of the way and got grabbed in it instead. The arm retracted yanking Liam into the air.
 "We missed." shrieked a female voice.
 "I'll try again." said a male voice. Another pair of arms reached down and nabbed both Pikachu and Dedenee. Team Rocket then went on with their motto. They then made some clever remark about thanking Ash for Pikachu. They also said that by capturing such a power trainer as the 'other twerp' the boss would surely promote them. 
"No you don't." Ash said as he readied a Pokéball.
 "Not so fast!" Meowth cut in. he pressed a button on his control pad. A vacuum turned on and sucked up all of the Pokéballs belong to Oak, as well as Ash and co. They then cheered.
Meowth pressed another button on the control pad and jet engines attached to the Meowth Baloon ignited rocketing off in the opposite direction of the stadium.