Ep 14. Lost Leader Strategy!

Ash and his friends have arrived at Sunyshore City and are excited to take on the gym there. However, they soon learn that the gym leader, Volkner, has been feeling discouraged and hasn't been battling as much as he used to.

The group decides to pay Volkner a visit and find him on the beach, staring out at the ocean. Volkner explains to them that he's been feeling like he's lost his passion for battling and isn't sure if he wants to continue on as a gym leader. Ash, being the passionate trainer he is, is determined to snap Volkner out of his funk and challenge him to a battle.

But before they can battle, Volkner shows them around his gym, which is unlike any other gym they've ever seen. It's full of rooms and elevators and the trainers need to navigate their way through it to reach Volkner. Ash is excited about the challenge and hopes to face Volkner soon, but he's disappointed when Volkner tells him he can't battle him right away.

The group decides to explore the city and soon come across a group of trainers who are upset because they've been defeated by Volkner and they can't figure out how to beat him. Ash takes it upon himself to help them out and begins training with them. Together, they come up with a strategy to take down Volkner and the trainers feel more confident than ever.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has some plans of their own. They notice that Volkner isn't feeling like himself and they think that if they can make him feel even worse, they might be able to convince him to join their team instead. They hatch a plan to capture Pikachu and use him as leverage.

As the big battle between Ash and Volkner approaches, Ash is feeling more confident than ever. He's trained hard with the other trainers and they've come up with a plan that they think will work against Volkner. When the battle begins, Ash starts off strong, but quickly realizes that Volkner has some new tricks up his sleeve. Ash's plan isn't working and it looks like he might lose the battle.

But just when things seem dire, Ash's teammates step in to help him out. They put their plan into action and it works perfectly. They manage to defeat Volkner and Ash earns his eighth gym badge. Meanwhile, Team Rocket's plan to capture Pikachu fails and they're forced to retreat once again.

With his passion for battling reignited, Volkner thanks Ash and his friends for helping him out. He realizes that sometimes you just need a little push to get back on track. Ash and his friends say their goodbyes to Volkner and head off to their next adventure, feeling proud of their accomplishments and excited for what's to come.