Previously on Pokémon Mano... After earning the Boulder Badge from Brock and overcoming his tough Rock-type Pokémon, Dango set off with his new companion, Maylin. Their next goal: to find her a partner Pokémon. They encountered a wild Elekid, and while Dango weakened it for her to catch, Maylin missed her throw. In the chaos that followed, Elekid escaped—but not before angering a wild Tauros.
Just as Maylin was about to be trampled, a wild Drillbur came to her rescue. In a panic, Maylin tossed a Poké Ball and accidentally caught it. With Drillbur as her new partner, the duo continued their journey, eventually arriving at a crowded Pokémon Centre near a cave on Route 3.
But things took a dark turn when the Centre was suddenly attacked. Hidden among the crowd were two individuals—Kai and Lia—grunts of the mysterious Team Blitz. With Kai's Roselia unleashing Sleep Powder, most of the trainers were knocked out, leaving Dango and Maylin to confront the danger alone.
Chapter 5 opens with Axew charging toward Lia's Arbok, tackling it with all his might. But Arbok, fast and brutal, wraps itself around Axew, constricting tightly and choking him. Drilbur comes to the rescue, landing a sharp Metal Claw on Arbok's side, causing it to release its grip on Axew with a hiss of pain.
Dango's Staravia swoops down, going head-to-head with Roselia, both Pokémon exchanging Aerial Aces and Vine Whips in a flurry of speed and power. Meanwhile, Axew, regaining his breath, looks toward Arbok, his eyes narrowing as he prepares for his next move. Arbok tries to retaliate, but Axew is quick, unleashing a powerful Dragon Rage, forcing Arbok to leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Drilbur, not missing a beat, bursts from the ground beneath Arbok, grabbing its tail and using all his strength to pull it down. Axew seizes the opportunity and leaps in, landing a perfect Dual Chop, slamming Arbok to the ground. The snake Pokémon crashes into some bookshelves with a heavy thud, unable to battle. Axew and Drilbur land side by side, looking proud of their teamwork. Lia stands in shock, her eyes wide as she watches her Arbok struggle to get up but ultimately fall.
Lia: "Arbok, get up!"
But Dango and Maylin have already shifted their attention to the remaining threat: Roselia. Staravia circles the flower-like Pokémon, already doing well in their one-on-one battle. But with Axew and Drilbur joining in, Roselia doesn't stand a chance. Axew charges forward, his tail glowing as he lands a devastating Iron Tail, sending Roselia spinning uncontrollably.
Drilbur, never one to hold back, follows up with a swift Metal Claw, launching Roselia high into the air. Without hesitation, Staravia dives down, its wings glowing as it finishes Roselia off with an Aerial Ace, sending the flower Pokémon crashing into the ground in a heap, defeated.
With all their Pokémon out of commission, Kai shouts for Lia to run, returning Roselia to its Poké Ball. Without another word, Kai bolts out of the Pokémon Centre, disappearing into the distance.
Dango and Maylin don't bother chasing after him. They simply stand there, watching Lia as she suddenly bursts into tears, thanking the duo. Dango and Maylin, confused along with their Pokémon, listen as Lia explains that her little brother is being held captive in a Team Blitz base, and she had to do what they asked—or he would be killed. She continues sobbing, and Maylin, believing her, tells her that he'll be fine and not to worry. While Dango doesn't fully trust the woman, he tells Maylin to go upstairs and contact Officer Jenny. Maylin nods, passing the still-unconscious trainers alongside her Drillbur.
Downstairs, Dango questions Lia about her supposed little brother—how he looked, how he was captured. Lia talks but stumbles over her words, and finally, tired of keeping up the act, she cuts it. Suddenly, Arbok lunges out of the collapsed bookshelves, knocking away both Axew and Staravia. It slithers forward, injured but furious, fangs bared.
Dango turns his head and sees it—the Arbok, still alive and aiming to lunge at him, and his Pokémon too far away to help.
Lia: "Poison Fang!"
Dango: "MAYLIN!"
Maylin rushes down, having already made the call, only to see a shocking sight: Dango on the ground, wide-eyed, with an Elekid—yes, the same wild Elekid—standing between him and the Arbok. The Elekid strains, holding back the Arbok's fangs, blood dripping from its body as Poison Fang takes its toll.
Lia, shocked, screams at her Arbok to kill the Elekid and then go for the boy. But Dango, filled with rage, shouts for his Pokémon. Staravia bursts out, carrying Axew in its talons. They strike together—Steel Wing and Iron Tail—hitting Arbok with a devastating combo, slicing it down and ending it for good.
Lia flees, but Dango doesn't have time for her lies. He drops beside the Elekid, who begins to collapse, its body shaking and crippled from the poison. Around them, the unconscious trainers slowly begin to wake up. Hours later, night falls. Officer Jenny is seen questioning Maylin while Dango sits silently in a room with Nurse Joy, watching over the injured Elekid, with Axew hugging him closely. Dango asks about Elekid's condition, desperate for some hope.
Nurse Joy, concerned, shakes her head. She says the poison is dangerously close to Elekid's brain. If it spreads any further, Elekid will almost certainly die. She apologises, knowing it must be hard seeing his Pokémon like this. Dango quietly responds that it's not his Pokémon… but it saved his life.
Dango only wondered why Elekid had saved him, and if he could, he would do anything in his power to return the favor. Hope comes in the form of Nurse Joy, who explains that a normal antidote stands no chance of healing the Elekid. But there's one possibility—if he can find a Nepapa flower, it could cure a Pokémon in this condition.
Dango is confused, wondering what a Nepapa flower is. Nurse Joy explains that the Nepapa flower, commonly known as Arceus's Blessing, is a rare bloom that only appears once every 26 years. It's found exclusively inside Mt. Moon—the cave right next to the Pokémon Centre—but is often plucked by cave explorers and stolen to be sold at a high price.
If he can somehow find the flower and feed it to Elekid, he'll be fully restored. The flower bloomed three days ago, but no one has located it yet. He needs to hurry—Elekid only has about two days left before the poison completely consumes his mind.
Dango: "Then what am I waiting for!" (rushes off to leave)
Nurse Joy: "Wait—this is for saving the Pokémon Centre."
She hands him a map, showing all the previous bloom locations of the Nepapa flower within Mt. Moon. Dango thanks her, then glances back at the Elekid, promising to save him. Dango leaves the Centre and finds Maylin. After explaining everything to her at the cave entrance, the two step in, ready to face the danger within. Meanwhile, in Cerulean City, we see Rose—defeated by the Gym Leader of this city, Misty.
To Be Continued!