Today on their journey, Ash & Co. have stopped for a rest near a little place called Cherrygrove City. Sitting down next to a nearby stream, Ash takes the opportunity to polish his Pokeballs. Brock shouts him over for their meal when suddenly a Quagsire pops it's head up out of the water. Misty decides to try to catch it and is about to send a Pokémon out when Psyduck lets itself out of it's PokéBall. He and the Quagsire stare at each other for a while. When Misty goes to pick Psyduck up she accidentally knocks the G/S Ball. It rolls towards the stream, where Quagsire grabs it and swims off with it in it's mouth. Ash chases after it, sending out Squirtle to catch up to the Quagsire and retrieve the G/S Ball. It lands on top of Quagsire, but slips off. It then tries to jump at it, but gets hit by Quagsire's tail. Ash orders it to use Water Gun, causing Quagsire to drop the G/S Ball, and allowing Pikachu to catch it. Quagsire and Squirtle both fire a Water Gun, which connect midway between the two, neither being able to defeat the other. Misty is about to throw a PokéBall and try and catch the Quagsire when a whistle blows somewhere behind them and Officer Jenny appears, taking them into custody for violating Quagsire Preservation Restrictions.

They arrive at the Police Station and call Professor Oak, who explains to Officer Jenny that Ash & Co. didn't know about the restrictions as they are new to the area. She decides to drop the charges, and Professor Oak explains to them that the people of Cherrygrove City use the Quagsire to determine how clean the water is as they only live in the cleanest. Jenny goes on to tell them that, due to the restrictions, no-one is allowed to battle or capture any Quagsire in or around the city. Oak asks Ash to make sure he doesn't forget the errand he sent him on, so Ash assures him that the G/S Ball is perfectly safe. After Professor Oak hangs up, Ash begins to wonder why the Quagsire wanted the G/S Ball. Officer Jenny tells him it is because it's round, elaborating that at that time of year the Quagsire all around Cherrygrove City appear, looking for anything that's round and swim with their chosen item upstream. The next morning, all of the round things they take come floating back downstream back to their owners. Ash thinks it's weird, but Officer Jenny explains that the people of the town are actually happy when their things get taken as when the items return they are supposed to bring good luck with them, especially the item that is last to arrive back as that is meant to be the luckiest of them all. She then notices a Quagsire staring in through the window. Ash recognises it as the one that tried to steal the G/S Ball, but he's determined not to let it get it this time. The Quagsire leaves.

Walking back to where they were cooking their lunch, they notice another Quagsire taking a round ball from off of a bridge and swim away with it. Ash still thinks it's strange, and everyone agrees, even the Quagsire that's after the G/S Ball. Noticing it stood between them, Ash tells it that it isn't allowed to take the ball, but it jumps up, onto his head. He sends out Chikorita as Misty and Brock try to remove the Pokémon. Chikorita uses it's leaf, knocking everyone down and the Quagsire off. Chikorita then jumps onto Ash and begins hugging him. Misty wonders what's got into Chikorita, with Brock thinking that it may have a crush on Ash. The Quagsire appears again behind Ash, but Chikorita attacks with it's leaf again. Unfortunately the Quagsire still manages to take the G/S Ball and swims away with it. Ash tries to run after it but falls over. Chikorita jumps on him and begins hugging him again.

Elsewhere, Team Rocket are unable to find the twerps. Meowth though doesn't care. He's too busy playing with a ball. Jessie asks him where he found it, so he tells her. Suddenly a Quagsire appears and steals the ball, upsetting Meowth and angering Jessie and James enough for them to get ready to send their Pokémon out. Before they can do so though, a small group of Quagsire arrive and steal their PokéBalls, swimming off with them. Angered at the loss of their Pokémon, they give chase.

That evening, Ash & Co. are still searching for the Quagsire that stole the G/S Ball. Brock begins to suggest waiting for the G/S Ball to float back downstream, when Pikachu notices something. A group of Quagsire swimming upstream. They decide to follow them in the hope that they lead them to the Quagsire that stole the G/S Ball.

Team Rocket are also still searching for Quagsire, unknowingly following the same route Ash & Co. took.

Later that night, Ash & Co. arrive at the part of the stream where all of the Quagsire have gathered. They soon spot the Quagsire with the G/S Ball, and Ash gets ready to capture it. Misty reminds him that they promised Officer Jenny that if they saw any Quagsire they would leave them alone. They decide to keep an eye on it for now.

On the other side of the stream, Team Rocket have noticed Ash & Co. They decide that, instead of catching just Pikachu, they should take the opportunity to catch all of the Quagsire as well.

Ash & Co. are watching the Quagsire, noticing that they seem to be watching for something to happen in the sky, when a mechanical hand swoops down and grabs one of the Pokémon. It's Team Rocket! As they recite their motto, the Quagsire manages to slip away, so they grab another. This gets away too. They keep grabbing the Pokémon, but they all get away, much to their annoyance. They decide to go to Plan B; a net, which descends from the balloon's basket and catches most of the Quagsire. They begin to wonder where the Quagsire put their PokéBalls, and soon notice them on the bank, in a pile of rubbish. They grab them with their balloon's mechanical arms. Meowth also notices his ball, being held by one of the Quagsire in the net and wants to go and get it, but Jessie and James stop him. On the ground, Ash & Co. chase after them, telling them to release the Quagsire, but they refuse, grabbing Pikachu at the same time. Suddenly rocks start flying at the Trio. It's the Quagsire, using their Water Gun to fire the rocks at them. Trying to avoid the rocks, Jessie knocks the controls and accidentally lets Pikachu go. Ash catches it, then sends out Bulbasaur and orders it to use Razor Leaf; cutting the net and releasing the Quagsire. One of the Quagsire on the bank then picks up a huge rock, throwing it into the air as another Quagsire uses Water Gun sending the rock flying and making a hole in Team Rocket's balloon, sending them blasting off again.

Suddenly all of the Quagsire start swimming further upstream. Ash & Co. follow them to a waterfall. Right at the top of the waterfall is a Blue Moon. They watch as the Quagsire, one by one throw their objects into the air and, using Water Gun, fire them up the waterfall. Ash wonders why they are doing it, so Brock points out that it looks like a competition to see who can get their object closer to the moon. Finally it's the turn of the Quagsire that took the G/S Ball. It fires it, sending it much higher than all the other objects, thus making that Quagsire the winner. As the G/S Ball floats back downstream, Ash & Co. give chase.

Dawn, and all of the townspeople gather at the stream to collect their items. Eventually the last of the items floats back, but everyone just stares at it, wondering who it belongs to. They hear someone shouting and turn to see Ash & Co. exhausted, running towards them with Ash shouting that it belongs to him. Officer Jenny bends down and plucks it from the water, handing it to him and telling him that, as the G/S Ball was the last to come down the river, he will be getting the best luck that year. The whole town cheers and applauds him, giving him their congratulations. And as the episode ends he stands up, happy and eager to try his luck in the Johto League.

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

There are currently 0 comments on this story... you could be first!