This episode is essential viewing because: Ash acquires a mysterious egg.

Back on the road, our heroes march onwards to Mahogany Town. They reach the top of a hill and spot the town of Egg-ceter. An Archanine dashes past. There is a harness attached to it pulling a skateboard. On the board rides Gary Oak. He stops and greets Ash and co. The trio comment on his great looking Archanine. Ash challenges Gary to a battle but he refuses, saying it's too risky, mentioning a big race. He and Archanine speed off. The gang run after him to the peak of a hill. Looking down into the valley below, they see hundreds of trainers doing exactly the same as Gary.

Ash and co. finish eating in a diner. Ash looks worried. He thinks the sport is cruel to the Pokémon. A mustached man sitting near them explains it's called 'Extreme Pokémon' (how inventive!), an annual competition: each trainer rides a skateboard pulled by a Pokémon. When Misty mentions Gary possibly winning, Ash decides there and then to enter. The man offers to help. Giving them a lift in his cart, the man introduces himself as Mr. Shellby.

Shellby runs a an egg daycare centre nearby. There are several in the area. At his house the gang meet his wife, who is cleaning a black and yellow egg. She gives them some refreshment and they talk about looking after Pokémon eggs. Leading Ash, Misty and Brock outside, Shellby shows Ash an old board he can us. Ash gets the feel of ridng the board on his own and explains that he use to do a lot of mountain boarding in the hills of Pallet Town.

Speeding down a hill he hits a boulder and starts rolling down on his back. Luckily he gets a soft landing from Gary's Archanine. Gary realises Ash is entering the tournament aswell and gets very competitive. A little later, Ash ponders which Pokémon to choose. Cyndaquil's too laid back, Totodile can be hard to control sometimes and Pikachu isn't strong enough. The obvious choice is Bayleef. They go off together and practice a little. Ash comes off once but gets right back on.

Meowth is spying on Ash through some binoculars. He wonders what 'the twerp' could be up to. James and Jessie are snoozing. They wake up and take a look through their own binoculars. James hands Meowth a pamphlet he received on the way into town about the Extreme Pokémon event. Meowth studies it. They formulate a plot to steal not Pikachu, but just one of the other stong Pokémon.

Back at the Shellby's house Brock and the gang's Pokémon are freeloading, I mean sampling some of Mrs. Shellby's special Poké food. Ash and Bayleef are still practicing. Mr. Shellby calls over to them to stop for a moment. He hands Ash a dummy egg to practice with and tells him that he should be proud of himself. Ash and Bayleef go right back to training.

The next day, all the contenders are at the starting line, Ash and Gary included. The commentator explains the course to everyone. Three lights flash on signalling for the race to start. A trainer with a Scyther is pulled into the air and crashes into some of the others. However, Ash, Gary and several others make it through. Ash and his rival race neck and neck for a while. Team Rocket fly overhead in the balloon, then they fire a cannon which shoots a net over... Gary's Archanine!

Gary and Ash exchange shocked glances. Archanine is hauled into the air, below the balloon. Team Rocket recite the usual motto. Gary chases after them. Ash and Bayleef plan something. In the balloon, Team Rocket celebrate, but not for long. Just as Jessie finishes speaking, she hears Ash on the ground. Bayleef halts suddenly and Ash carries on. He goes over a slope and flies into the air, crashing into the balloon. The board punctures it.

The balloon crashes into the side of the Shellby's house. Ash emerges from under the wreckage. Archanine is also OK. Team Rocket swipe two baskets of eggs. A battle ensues. Ash has to use Bayleef, who arrives just in time. He orders a Razor Leaf, but Arbok's poison stings cut through them and hit Bayleef. It hits the floor and the snake is about to use Bite when Gary arrives. He commands Archanine to use Take Down. Team Rocket run for it. Bayleef brings back the egg baskets with it's vines. Archanine uses Flame wheel and sends the trio blasting out of the episode.

Mr. Shellby hands Ash and Gary Oak dummy eggs and the race is back on. They charge towards the finish neck and neck. Bayleef manages to do a large jump towards victory for his trainer. The crowds cheer. Ash is handed the golden Pokéball trophy. Even Gary claps. Later after the gang wave Gary off, the Shellby's hand Ash a blue egg in a case. They won't tell him what it is. So the gang set off again with a mystery on their hands.

This episode guide has been written by AR.

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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