Today on their journey, Ash & Co. are on their way to Ecruteak City, when they come across a river. Brock's map tells them that there's a bridge they can cross, but they are unable to see it. A little further upstream they see a group of men building something. They go up to the foreman and ask him where the bridge is. He tells them that it was right where they are now, until a typhoon washed it away the previous month. He says that after the bridge was washed away, he got his construction team on the job straight away, and that it should be completed in about six months time.

Up in their balloon, Team Rocket are deciding which way to go. Jessie looks up to James who is cooking potatoes in the balloon's burner and asks if they are done yet. He tells that they will be a little bit longer. Meowth suggests turning the burner up to make them cook faster, but unfortunately this sets the balloon alight and it burns away, causing them to crash down into the forest below.

Back at the river, Ash & Co. are still pondering on how to get across, when Pikachu points to a man in a boat, fishing. They call out to him and ask if he would take them across. He says that he would be glad to, but asks if one of them could catch him a Sudowoodo. He explains that Sudowoodo are a very rare kind of Pokémon which can be found on the mountain behind them, but that he has never seen one and thinks that three Pokémon Trainers may have a better chance than him. After looking it up in his PokéDex, Ash asks the man if he will take them to the other side if they catch him one. He gives them his word that he will. They set off to find one.

Spying on them from the bushes, Team Rocket hear everything. They also decide to search for a Sudowoodo, so they can get a boat ride across instead.

As they search through the forest for a Sudowoodo, Psyduck lets itself out. Deciding to put it to good use, Misty asks it to help them find the Pokémon they are looking for. It runs off into the forest to search and soon comes across a Sudowoodo disguised as a tree, holding up a couple of small branches. As Psyduck watches it, it shuffles to one side, when Psyduck follows it, it shuffles back again. This goes on for a little longer, before Psyduck runs back to Misty to show her it's discovery. She looks in the direction it points in, but is unable to see through Sudowoodo's disguise and passes it off as another tree. She turns away, so the Sudowoodo starts edging away. She suddenly turns back and, noticing it moving, calls Ash and Brock. Realising it's cover has been blown, the Sudowoodo takes off. They chase after it, but it manages to evade them.

They arrive in another part of the forest to find two scientists stood on tree stumps, arguing. Ash & Co. go over to stop them arguing, saying that they probably didn't come all the way out here just to shout at each other. One scientist, a woman, tells them that they are looking for something. Ash says that they are looking for something too; a Sudowoodo. The woman remarks that it's a coincidence as that was what they were arguing about. Misty asks them if they are Pokémon Trainers, but the other scientist, a man, tells her that they are there doing a Pokémon research paper. He introduces himself as Pierre, and the woman introduces herself as Marie. Pierre explains that he is trying to definitively prove that Sudowoodo is a Rock-Type, much to the surprise of Ash & Co. They see Sudowoodo to be more like a Grass-Type. Marie agrees with them, but says that all of the experts seem to agree that it's a Rock-Type. Going on, she says that when Pierre opens a book, he shuts his mind to the possibility that the experts are wrong, and that he chooses to ignore eyewitness accounts of Sudowoodo using Fire-Type attacks which clearly indicates that they need to look for more answers. Pierre says that they already have the answers and shows her a book. She doesn't agree, and thinks that first hand research is the best way to find out. Brock agrees with her and tries to chat her up, but Misty drags him away. Ash decides to try and settle it once and for all, sending out Noctowl to help them track one down.

As they walk along, Marie tells them that there have been reports of Sudowoodo looking like various different kinds of trees. Their leaves even change colour like real trees. This further convinces Ash that they must be Grass-Types. Pierre then reads from a book, stating that Sudowoodo gather branches to look like trees. Suddenly, Noctowl calls down to them and flies off. They chase after it and soon find a Sudowoodo disguising itself as a tree. It notices them and, dropping it's disguise, runs off. Ash recalls Noctowl, then sends Chikorita to chase after it. After a while, Sudowoodo turns to face Chikorita, waving a vine in the air. It throws the vine at Chikorita, who knocks it into Marie's hands, revealing that it wasn't using Vine Whip after all and that it probably picked it up in the forest. It then throws leaves at Chikorita, but it bats these away as well. Ash thinks it's using Razor Leaf, but Marie points out that the leaves are all dried up. Ash orders Chikorita to use Vine Whip, but Sudowoodo knocks it back using it's own real Vine Whip. Confused, Marie asks Ash to battle it with a different Pokémon, hoping that it will use a different attack. He recalls Chikorita and sends in Totodile. He orders it to use Tackle, but Sudowoodo dodges. He then orders it to use Water Gun. It manages to dodge the water, seemingly afraid. Ash orders Totodile to use Bite, but as it gives chase, Sudowoodo falls into a pit. Team Rocket appear, reciting their motto. James orders Weezing to use Smokescreen. With everyone unable to see, they make their escape with Sudowoodo. Marie is upset, thinking that they will never be able to find Sudowoodo again. Brock comforts her and tried to chat her up again, but Misty comes along and hits him with a large mallet. They then start the search for Team Rocket and the Sudowoodo.

Elsewhere in the forest, Team Rocket are debating weather Sudowoodo is a Rock or a Grass-Type Pokémon. James thinks it's a Grass-Type. To settle it, Jessie asks Meowth to talk to it and find out. He asks it what type it is. The answer; "Why don't we get something to eat?". Meowth says that they'll get some food soon and asks again. The answer this time is that it's the type that wants something to eat. Annoyed at the fact the conversation is getting them nowhere, they decide to take it and get their boat ride across the river. They take it to the old man. He asks it if it really is a Sudowoodo, but it doesn't answer. He comments that it doesn't look too healthy, so James takes a Squirtbottle out to water it. Scared, Sudowoodo tries to run away, but Jessie holds it back. James is about to water it, when the rope around Sudowoodo snaps. Breaking free, it runs as fast as it can. Team Rocket chase after it. As does the old man, thinking that he may be able to catch it before the Trio does.

Ash & Co. continue to search for Sudowoodo, when Pikachu spots it disguised again as a tree. As they go up to it, it takes off. Brock runs after it and manages to grab hold. To calm it down, he feeds it some of his Pokémon Food. It tries to get some more, but Brock tells it that it can have some more as soon as they get to Marie's Lab. They take it back to the Lab and start doing a few simple tests. Marie asks it to use Vine Whip like before, but it refuses. Brock asks it, throwing some food at it, but it still refuses. Marie asks Ash to get one of his Pokémon to attack, hoping that it may defend itself with it's Vine Whip. He orders Pikachu to use Thundershock. In retaliation, Sudowoodo uses Thundershock too, confusing everyone. Looking through one of his books, Pierre says that Sudowoodo has an attack called Mimic. Marie realises that this is how it was able to use Vine Whip in the forest; it Mimicked the attack. Ash points out that, though they've found out how it uses such a variety of attacks, they still don't know weather it is a Rock or a Grass-Type. In an attempt to prove that he is right, Pierre goes over to a sink and turns a hose on, aiming it at Sudowoodo. Scared, it runs away from the water. Marie tells him to turn it off, but he refuses. Sudowoodo jumps out of a window and runs off into the forest again, followed by Ash.

Running after it, their path is soon blocked by Team Rocket who insist he give Sudowoodo back to them. He refuses, saying that they stole it. Suddenly the old man comes running up. Arriving with Misty and Brock, Marie asks him what he's doing there, explaining that he is her grandfather. He tells them that when his granddaughter told him that she was researching Sudowoodo, he asked everyone he met to find him one. In an effort to reclaim Sudowoodo, Jessie sends out Arbok, so Ash calls in Cyndaquil. Jessie orders Arbok to use Tackle, but Sudowoodo grabs it by it's tail and Slams it into the ground. Brock suggests that Sudowoodo may want to battle. As Arbok is getting up, Sudowoodo points at something. Arbok looks in the direction Sudowoodo indicated as it jumps up into the air and crashes down on Arbok. Pierre identifies it as Faint Attack. As Arbok tries to get up again, Sudowoodo uses Low Kick, knocking it down yet again. Jessie recalls Arbok, and sends in Wobbuffet. Ash orders Cyndaquil to use Flamethrower, but Sudowoodo steps in the way. As Cyndaquil's attack finishes, Sudowoodo uses Flamethrower right back at it. Ash orders Cyndaquil to use Tackle, but Wobbuffet uses Counter, sending it flying back. Misty then sends in Poliwhirl and tells Ash to get Cyndaquil to attract Wobbuffet's attention. Cyndaquil uses Flamethrower, and as Wobbuffet is about to Counter, Poliwhirl uses Water Gun, sending Team Rocket blasting off again. As the excess water from the attack rains down, Sudowoodo runs away again. The old man is about to chase after it, but Marie tells him to let it go as they have found out enough to settle their argument. She concludes that Sudowoodo is a Rock-Type, which is why it runs away from water, and the only reason it used other attacks was because it used Mimic. She concedes that the research was right, but that she couldn't agree until she saw it for herself. Pierre tells her that if she hadn’t disagreed, they wouldn't have learnt as much as they have. They both decide to focus on the facts next time, instead of on winning an argument. They thank Ash & Co. for their help.

A little while later, the old man takes them across the river as Marie and Pierre wave them off.

And elsewhere, Team Rocket are struggling to climb a cliff to safety. James grabs onto a branch near the top, and as he pulls himself up notices that it is being held by a Sudowoodo. Unable to hold on, it releases the branch, causing the Trio to fall back down.

This episode guide has been written by The Librarian.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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