This episode is essential viewing because: Ash continues to battle in the League.

The announcer announces that Macy’s next battle will be against someone named Jackson. A boy in a red-and-black cape (Jackson) is on top of the booth where cameras are. He says, “Jackson from New Bark Town is in da house” and basically makes a fool of himself in front of the cameras. Even Ash is a little embarrassed by the opponent he has to battle in order to get to the finals. Pokémon! No time to question my moves…

Macy orders her Quailava to attack. Jackson tries to counter, but before he can issue an order to his Poliwhirl, he trips on his cape and falls flat on his face. Quailava’s flamethrower connects, taking Poliwhirl out. The battle goes to Macy. Misty mentions that if Ash loses his battle against Jackson, everyone in his division will be tied. Brock says if that happens, there will be another “Round Robin”, but Ash is confident that that won’t happen.

Bulbasaur and Squirtle seem to be having a good time playing with each other in front of the pokémon center, so AshCo decide to leave them be for now and go inside.

Ash finds Jackson talking with Professor Elm on the phone. Ash says hello to Elm and Jackson formally introduces himself when he notices Ash. He says that he started his journey with the Chikorita that Elm gave him and mentions that it has now evolved into a Meganium. Ash wonders why he didn’t use such a powerful pokémon in his battle with Macy. Jackson explains that he wanted to save it for the finals, but apparently that was a big mistake. Elm asks how Jackson’s family is doing, but Jackson doesn’t know because he hasn’t talked to them in a while. Elm says that his journey as a pokémon trainer is important, but his family misses him and wants to hear from him.

Bulbasaur and Squirtle come upon an apple tree. Squirtle is hungry, so Bulbasaur uses its vine whip to get an apple. As soon as Bulbasaur reaches the apple, however, another vine whip grabs onto it, too. The vine whip is coming from a Meganium. Bulbasaur and Meganium play tug-of-war with their vine whips until the apple finally breaks in half. Meganium hands it to his Azumaril companion and Bulbasaur hands his half to Squirtle. Before Squirtle can take a bite, however, Azumaril throws its half at Squirtle, causing it to drop the apple. Meganium and Azumaril both laugh and Squirtle gets angry. He approaches the two other pokémon and is about to battle them, but Bulbasaur tries to break it up. Azumaril slaps Bulbasaur, making Squirtle even angrier, but Bulbasaur says that it’s okay and convinces a reluctant Squirtle to walk away. However, Meganium purposely causes Bulbasaur to trip. This finally makes Bulbasaur angry and the four pokémon prepare to battle.

AshCo and Jackson are still talking to Elm when some rumors start circulating about a bulbasaur and a meganium fighting each other. Ash and Jackson panic and go to investigate.

Their pokémon are in fact the ones that are fighting. They try to break it up, but to no avail. Harrison comes to the rescue by ordering his miltank to use heal bell. The four pokémon are now acting more friendly toward each other, which is good because just then Officer Jenny comes to the scene. Harrison explains to Officer Jenny that they were just sparring. Gary then arrives to help with the story. Jenny believes it, but warns Ash and Jackson that if their two pokémon are caught fighting, they will both be disqualified from the tournament. Ash thanks both Gary and Harrison, but Gary uses this opportunity to make fun of both Ash and Jackson. Harrison asks if they are rivals, and Ash says that they grew up together.

James is trying to design the next badge, but he’s having a difficult time coming up with ideas. Jessie and Meowth are getting a tad impatient but James finally comes up with something: a few strokes of ink on paper. I highly doubt it’s any kind of Kanji (traditional Japanese writing that’s sometimes used in art) but I guess since I don’t study Japanese there’s a remote possibility I could be wrong. Jessie and Meowth for some reason think it’s brilliant.

AshCo are studying Jackson’s team. Since Meganium is Jackson’s strongest, Ash decides to include Cyndaquil on his team. Since Jackson will probably suspect the use of a fire type and use a water type, Ash also decides to have Pikachu on his team. He doesn’t really know what other pokémon to register at the moment.

The next day, Ash and Jackson promise not to go easy on each other and Jackson once again makes a fool of himself on television. The lights indicate that Jackson starts the battle first. He sends out Azumaril, so Ash sends out Pikachu. Azumaril starts off with water gun, so Ash has Pikachu use quick attack to avoid it. Azumaril then dodges Pikachu’s quick attack, so Ash orders a thunderbolt. Jackson tells Azumaril to use bubblebeam to counter and it appears to be working, so rather than continue to use thunderbolt, Pikachu just stops and gets out of the way. Jackson then orders an icy wind, which hits dead on and is followed up by an iron tail. Pikachu uses this to his advantage and grabs onto the iron tail. Ash orders a thunder, taking Azumaril out of the battle.

Jackson’s next move is to send out a Magneton, but as the announcer observes, this Magneton is shiny. Jackson brags, but Ash isn’t nervous. He orders Pikachu to use thunderbolt, which doesn’t seem to affect Magneton. Magneton’s own thunderbolt is equally ineffective against Pikachu, so both trainers have to come up with a different strategy. Ash tells Pikachu to use quick attack, but Magneton is able to dodge and use thunderwave. Strings made of electricity come out of Magneton’s magnets and immobilize Pikachu and preventing it from using its speed attacks. A tri attack from Magneton ends the round.

Since Magneton is also part steel type, Ash sends out Cyndaquil next. Magneton uses thunderbolt, but Cyndaquil is able to dodge it easily and use flamethrower. Magneton is able to dodge Cyndaquil attack and use thunder wave, but Cyndaquil uses smoke screen to escape. Cyndaquil finally lands a hit with swift attack after disorienting Magneton with its escape, but it isn’t so lucky with its flamethrower. Magneton uses double team to make it more difficult. Ash gives his usual order of relaxing and trying to sense the real one, but before Cyndaquil can pull this off, Magneton uses thunder wave and tri attack to end the round.

Ash’s final choice is Bulbasaur. Magneton uses thunderbolt, but Bulbasaur dodges and uses razor leaf. Magneton once again uses double team, but Ash orders Bulbasaur to use vine whip to get rid of all the holograms. Magneton’s next move is to use thunder wave again, but Bulbasaur counters with razor leaf. Jackson orders a tri attack any way and Ash tells Bulbasaur to dodge and use leech seed to drain Magneton’s energy. The round ends with a vine whip from Bulbasaur.

And of course Jackson’s final pokémon is Meganium. Both grass pokémon use razor leaf. Meganium’s razor leaf is just a little bit powerful, but both attacks have little effect. They both try vine whip next and this time Meganium manages to throw Bulbasaur to the ground. It tries several body slams next, but Bulbasaur manages to dodge them all. Jackson orders a vine whip next and Ash tells Bulbasaur to use vine whip to jump and dodge. Jackson had apparently anticipated this, as he tells Meganium to use razor leaf, which hits dead-on. He orders a body slam next, but Bulbasaur uses its vines to flip Meganium over before the attack can connect. Meganium quickly gets back up and hits Bulbasaur with razor leaf. Bulbasaur grabs onto Meganium’s neck and uses its own vine whip to hit Meganium. Both pokémon fall to the ground. The struggle to get back up and glare at each other. Bulbasaur hits Meganium with vine whip and Jackson orders Meganium to do the same with Bulbasaur. This goes back and forth for a while and the announcer observes that they aren’t even trying to dodge each other’s attacks. Misty is worried that maybe it’s because they’re too tired, but Brock says that they’re just fighting for their honor as grass types (or something like that). They hit each other one more time with vine whip and fall to the ground. This time it’s even harder to get up, but they both manage. Since the pokémon are tired, both Ash and Jackson try to end the round quickly with solar beam. The attacks collide and cause a major explosion, taking both pokémon out. Jackson and Ash have tied, but since Ash has more victory points than either Macy or Jackson, he goes on to the next round. Bulbasaur and Meganium have also settled their differences. I’m on a master quest! Pokémon!

Jessie and James are doing quite well with their souvenir business.

AshCo are shocked to find out that Ash’s next battle is against none other than Gary. Gary arrives and the two lifelong rivals stare each other down.

This episode guide has been written by KasumiMizuno.

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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