An attempted bridge crossing turns into near tragedy, as Pikachu falls to the rapid river below. Ash quickly dives in after Pikachu and emerges to find himself facing the oft-maligned Pokémon, Absol, a Pokémon which is widely said to herald coming catastrophe. The residents of a local village take this maxim even further, however, claiming that Absol are in fact responsible for the catastrophes that seem to accompany their sightings. Pointing to numerous recent Absol sightings, locals predict a coming catastrophe. As Ash and friends investigate, they find that the villagers’ worst fears may indeed come true. Along with one lone young man determined to prove the Absol innocent, our heroes strive to understand what message the Absol are actually bearing to the villagers.