The next morning, Ash and co walk through the forest. The ground is full of freshly made puddles and Brock stops to breath in the fresh air. He then informs the others that he must decide which way is best to get to Petalburg City. Ash and co are saddened by this and May drops herself on the floor, saying she wants to get home quickly. Max then asks if he has decided yet and Brock informs them that he has no idea where to go, which depresses the group even more. But Brock brightens their hopes by saying he's decided and they all wonder what way they go to and he walks forward. The others are worried but in the end they decide to camp out and wait. They all release their Pokemon and Brock asks Lombre to find some water for the stew. It begins to sniff, but Pikachu then picks up on something himself. Ash wonders what's up and it leaps from his shoulder. Torchic also senses it and the two rush into the bushes.

They approach a large amount of broken branches and stumble upon the injured Swablu on the ground. Ash and co approach it as the Pokemon becomes frightened. May thinks it's cute and Brock notices its wing is injured. Ash tries to get it to come over, but it's too scared and steps back. May then decides to try it and she gets on her knees and tries to clam it down, but instead it starts to sing. Ash warns her to back away, but they all soon fall asleep. Swablu then takes this time to escape, but doesn't get far before the pain of its wing gets to it. It stumbles and falls on Torchic, waking it up. Torchic notices it and they talk, cheering Swablu up. Torchic then hops over to May and begins to peck her softly but it doesn't wake May up. It then starts to peck hard and freaks out. She notices Swablu is still there and tries to talk to it. She grabs a super potion out of her pack and informs Swablu that it will help it as she sprays some potion. She then asks Torchic to wake the others and Torchic gives them all a pecking causing everyone to scream out over the forest.

Somewhere else in the forest, a Nuzleaf hears the screams and leaps down from a tree in front of its trainer. The man also wonders what it was and they decide to investigate.

Ash and co hold their noses as Torchic stands in front of them with a smile on its face. They then see Swablu wrapped up in a lot of bandage, looking like mummy. May exclaims that she made it all better and the others say it looks more like she's preparing it for a tomb. May scolds them, explaining that they can't take any chances with an injured Pokemon. Then the Nuzleaf appears out of the bushes, along with its trainer. He thinks something wrong is happening and wonders what they're doing here. Swablu becomes frightened of the man and hides behind May. The man then notices they were helping an injured Pokemon and apologizes to Ash and co. The man introduces himself as Morita, a ranger and he brings them to his cabin.

At the cabin, Brock takes off the bandages May wrapped around Swablu and puts a new bandage around Swablu's wing. Ash in the meanwhile scans it with his pokedex. Brock then grabs a medicine bottle and puts a bit on a spoon and lets Swablu sip it a bit. It does so and seems to enjoy it. May remarks on how well Brock is at this and Ash comments that he's a natural as a Pokemon Breeder. May then asks Swablu how it feels and it smiles happily at her. The door opens and Morita enters with some drinks. He then tells the gropu who he is in charge of this area and has to make sure that the Altaria and Swablu are safe in this area. He explains that the Pokemon are very rare, and poachers love to steal them. Ash checks Altaria on his Pokedex. Morita then explains that Swablu is very young and so it should be returned to its flock as soon as possible.

Brock then comments that Swablu might not keep up with the flock as his wing is injured. Morita agrees and says that he plans to let it rest up and heal before releasing it again. He then asks Ash if he's a Pokemon trainer and Ash says he is. Morita then offers to let Ash care for Swablu until it is healed. Ash seems enthralled by this, but May cuts in saying she wants to care for it. Ash says that would be fine and they all agree to care for it together.

Team Rocket in the meanwhile is sitting on a branch outside the cabin spying in Ash and co. James wonders what kind of Pokemon it is and Jessie says it's cute. She then immediately wants to add it to her team, but Meowth interjects. He explains that Swablu's wings are so soft and it sings so well that you can't help but fall asleep and that it would be perfect for the boss. Jessie and James are intrigued by idea and they plan to steal it!

That evening, when Ash and co enter the room they notice May is asleep and wonder if she will come with them. Max wakes her up to see if she wants to join them. She wakes up and Ash and Brock comment on how much she must care for Swablu if she stays so close to it all the time. She begins to explain that she loves all Pokemon and can't bear to see it injured. Max wants to say how she once hated them but she covers his mouth and says she wants to stay with it a bit longer. Brock hands her some medicine and they leave. That night, May stays up keeping Swablu warm under a lamp. It sleeps contently as she watches it and the next morning she takes care of it too and that's what she does all day. She looks at it while Ash and Brock battle and the next day she massages its wing and when Swablu notices Taillow flying above, it seems to want to fly too.

Team Rocket watches this scene from a random tree house. Wobbuffet then interrupts by popping out of the door. Inside the cabin, Brock removes the bandages and notices Swablu's wing looks healed. Morita remarks that May did a bang up job in caring for it and May thanks him. Swablu then tries to fly again, but doesn't get very high before it falls down. Everyone is shocked and Brock suggests that it may need some more time. Ash, on the other hand, just thinks they need to teach it how again. Outside, Ash releases Taillow and tells Swablu to join it. Swablu just shakes its head. Taillow then lands by it and Swablu cowers to May in fear. Morita remarks that it must be really attached to May now and forgot how to get into the air. Max cuts in exclaiming that they should teach it how to take off before teaching it to fly. May agrees and pets Swablu. Ash and Pikachu and now sporting fake wings. May tells Swablu to watch as Ash and Pikachu do a pretend take off. May then tells it to try and it rushes off. May thinks its doing well, but it tries to leave the ground and just falls back to earth. May is now a little worried, but they have one more idea. May has Beautifly take Swablu up into the air. It becomes frightened as they lift off and hides its head. Ash and co call for it to not be afraid and it soon lifts its head. It is then in awe at the sight and becomes happy as Beautifly flies on.

That night, Ash and co sit at the table exhausted from the day's exploits. Max then comments that he has a fool proof plan to get Swablu to fly. The next morning, Max demonstrates his plan by having Beautifly spray pollen onto Taillow. The Pokemon becomes relieved by this and immediately flies happily into the air. Max then suggests they do that to Swablu. May doesn't seem too happy with the idea, but Brock thinks it might work. After some reassurance from May, Swablu hops into the powder. It then begins to beat its wings and in a matter of moments, it's flying up towards Taillow! Ash and Pikachu jump for joy exclaiming that they taught it to fly, but Max interjects saying it was his plan. Morita then exits the cabin and explains that he has located the Altaria flock. Without wasting time, the group speeds off in his car. Suddenly, a barrage of pin missiles come from the forest and pops the tires of the car. It skids to a stop missing a wheel and Morita goes to investigate. May tries to have Swablu fly the rest of the way, but the others don't think it’s a good idea. They tell her to have Beautifly help, and she sets Swablu down to call it out.

Suddenly, a hand exits the forest and grabs the poor Pokemon. It then retreats back into the bushes where Team Rockets balloon takes off. James thanks Cacnea as Jessie cuddles Swablu. They then say their motto and Ash and co demand the release of Swablu. Naturally, Team Rocket refuses. Pikachu prepares to shock them, but Team Rocket reminds the group that a shock would also hurt Swablu. May then tells Swablu to use sing. It does so and Team Rocket freaks out before succumbing to the music. Before Cacnea goes to sleep, it lets off a pin missile, striking everyone's rears and waking them back up. Swablu cowers in a corner as James tells Cacnea to cut it out. He then notices it's asleep and can't stop! The pin missiles then strike the burner causing the balloon to go up in flames. Team Rocket throws a fit as Ash and co chase below. Swablu remembers the burning tree branch and becomes frightened as smoke fills the balloon and the fire engulfs the whole balloon. Ash and co rush below yelling for Swablu to leave the balloon. After much yelling and hurting of the ears, May's pleading gets through to the cotton swab and it takes flight just as the balloon explodes.

Everyone is scared that Swablu didn't make it out, but it soon emerges from the smoke flying happily. It flies into May's arms and she congratulates it on regaining the ability to fly. Team Rocket's basket lands in front of them burning. Brock then has Lombre and Mudkip put the fire out. Team Rocket emerges complaining, but its short-lived as another blast of water guns sends them blasting off. That evening, the group makes it to a vast lake, but find out that the flock is gone. May is saddened, but offers Swablu a chance to go with her. It accepts and she pulls out a Pokeball to catch it. Suddenly, the flock appears in the sky calling for their friend. It immediately flies to them, but May calls for it. It turns back saddened, but May then tells it to go with the flock. Max wonders what the heck got into her, but she explains that it belongs with its family. With a tearful goodbye, May says they'll always be friends and it finally joins its family. The episode then ends with May waving to her departing friend.

This episode guide has been written by shinymay.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Brock

Max

May

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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