Lawrence III, AKA the Collector, is high over the Eight Islands in his flying fortress; determined to catch the legendary Pokémon Lugia, the famed beast of the sea. To achieve this, he must first capture the three elemental birds, Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos; however, as he does so, the weather patterns around the planet begin to change dramatically. Ash, Tracy, Misty and their Pokémon are also visiting the islands and are as yet unaware of the impending global disaster. In the annual festival Ash gets picked as the chosen one, who prophecy says will bring peace back to the islands when calamity befalls. And although the events are merely fictitious in the eyes of the islanders, Ash finds that this year, the responsibility of the chosen one is altogether real.