While walking through a dark forest, a Skarmory attacks the gang. When Skitty pops out it’s Pokeball, May rushes to save it and ends up being carried off by the Steel Bird Pokemon, carrying her over a huge fence and dropping her off in a grassy area. While there, May encounters a Bulbasaur and becomes friends with it, but is soon attacked by other Grass Pokemon whom are extremely distrustful of humans. Meanwhile Ash, Brock and Max appeal to the Forest’s protectors to allow them entry to rescue May, and when they are disallowed, the three decide to sneak in and save their friend…

After starting the long road to Fortree City, Ash and May are challenged to a Tag Battle, which involves two trainers against another two and each trainer using one of their Pokemon. The match is Corphish & Skitty vs. Nidoking & Nidoqueen. However the match doesn’t go well, with Corphish and Skitty attacking each other rather than their opponents, leading Ash and May to fall out. They get a chance to settle their rivalry when they encounter Team Rocket, who are also arguing after losing to the same couple. Soon, the match is Ash & James vs. May & Jessie, with both teams determined to win…

Fortree City is the location of the next Gym, so this is the gang’s destination, however they soon meet up with Professor Birch, who si on his way to Littleroot Town’s harbour where he is to pick up Professor Oak who is visiting Hoenn. Ash and Brock decide to join him while May and Max go to Birch’s lab. At the lab May and Max meet up with Birch’s assistant who shows them a new batch of starters, and then Professor Oak (who has made his own way to the lab) turns up. Max is overjoyed to meet his idol, and Oak lets him meet a Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. However soon Team Rocket turn up and nab all six starters and take them to their Secret Base. With Ash, Brock and Birch still waiting at the narbour, it’s up to May, Max and Oak to rescue them!

Having already won four badges during his adventures in Hoenn, Ash finally starts his long-awaited rematch with Norman, except this time it is an official Gym Battle with a Balance Badge on the line! Ash begins with Pikachu while Norman starts with a fast Slakoth which Pikachu is unable to hit, and after receivng a bit of damage, Ash is forced to change to Torkoal to counter Slakoth’s Blizzard attack. With Norman’s Vigoroth and Slaking still to come, and Max rooting for his father to win, can Ash defeat the toughest Gym Leader he’s faced so far…

The gang have finally arrived back in Petalburg City, and while May and Max are reunited with Caroline, Ash encounters Norman in the Pokemon Center where he is deep in conversation with Nurse Joy. Meanwhile, May begins to tell her mother about her journey, but Caroline gets angry when May mentions her Beautifly, and it turns out that Norman and Nurse Joy have been spending a lot of time together. While this is all going on, Ash encounters the Vigoroth that defeated Pikachu, as well as Slakoth and Slaking which also belong to Norman, and naturally, Team Rocket want to get thier hands on them…

The gang have arrived in North Petalburg, a suburb of the main city, and are amazed when they discover that Norman is an idol to everyone who lives there, and May and Max are soon mobbed by Norman fans. While May delightfully shows off her Beautifly and Skitty, Ash also runs into fans of Norman who, after hearing that Ash is planning to challenge the Gym Leader, keep challenging Ash to battle after battle, which exhausts most of his Pokemon and when the crown encourage May to battle him, it leads to a showdown between Ash’s Taillow and May’s Torchic. Meanwhile, after hearing of Norman’s popularity Jesse, James, Meowth and Wobbuffet decide to dress up as Norman, Caroline, May and Max in order to sell autographs and get away with the money…

The gang decide to settle down for a picnic, and Ash takes the opportunity to introduce his newly-evolved Grovyle to his other Pokemon. While Taillow and Torkoal are happy to have him on the team, Corphish becomes worried that Ash will now favor Grovyle over the others given it’s higher stage, especially when Grovyle manages to get fruit off a tree easily and fend off a Team Rocket attack. However the crisis is interrupted by a Ludicolo and it’s bongo-playing trainer, who challenge Ash to a match. Ash decides that, since Corphish looks desperate for a battle, he should let it. However things don’t go well and Corphish is easily beaten, which makes it feel worse and causes it runs off. While walking through the forest, Corphish finds the Ludicolo and it’s trainer, but when Team Rocket attempt to capture the two, it’s up to Corphish to save the day!

The gang is nearing Petalburg and Ash is excited about his battle with Norman. During a picnic, Ash notices Treecko isn’t very happy due to its defeat by a Gulpin. Before Ash can make it feel better, a Loudred rampages through the camp followed by its trainer Guy. While he is able to calm Loudred down, Guy is worried as since it evolved from Whismur, it’s become increasingly disobedient. Ash and Guy decide to have a Pokémon battle, Ash using his Treecko and Guy using Loudred. The battle takes an unexpected turn when both Pokémon evolve at the same time. Exploud promptly takes off on another rampage. While everyone looks for it, Team Rocket decides to steal it for Giovanni.

While enjoying a picnic in the harbour area of a city, the gang are curious when some of their food goes missing, but this is overshadowed when a state-of-emergency is declared. The gang learn that the city has been besieged by a large group of Gulpin, a Pokemon known for it’s large appetite. The gang agree to help get rid of the group, not realizing it’s going to lead to a super-sized battle between one of the Gulpin and Ash’s Treecko!

While walking through a forest, the gang come across a large amount of debris caused by a recent storm trapping an injured Swablu. Determined to help the Pokemon return to it’s flock, May begins to care for the flying Pokemon and develops a bond with it. Meanwhile Team Rocket notice Swablu and immediately begin working out how to capture it…