Ep 1. Regaining the Home Advantage!

Ash, Dawn, and Brock make their way into Jubilife City in their continued quest to compete in the upcoming Sinnoh League. Upon arriving, they meet up with Barry, Ash's rival who is eager to prove himself as a trainer. The group quickly learns that the city's Gym is currently closed due to renovations, forcing Ash to look for an alternate place to train before the League.

As they walk through the city, they stumble upon an exhibition match featuring two trainers and their beloved Pokémon, a Buizel and a Bidoof. They are shocked when the match is interrupted by a group of Team Rocket members who attempt to steal the Pokémon. Our heroes quickly leap into action, fighting off the villains and successfully saving the Pokémon.

Soon after, they discover that the Buizel belongs to a young boy named Kenny, who happens to be an old friend of Dawn's. Kenny, who is revealed to be a skilled Pokémon Coordinator, updates Dawn on what has happened since they last met. He tells them about a local festival, where he plans on showcasing his skills in a competition.

Eager to cheer on their friend, Ash and company decide to attend the festival. However, upon arriving, they learn that the competition has been rigged by Team Rocket in an attempt to steal the festival's grand prize, a beautiful pearl. To make matters worse, the festival's referee turns out to be a member of Team Rocket.

Without hesitation, Ash, Dawn, and Brock decide to participate in the competition to put a stop to Team Rocket's plan. But as they compete against the villains, they quickly discover that their opponents are not playing fair. Despite the Team Rocket members cheating their way through the contest, Ash manages to make it to the final battle against his rival, Barry.

In the end, it all comes down to a heated battle between Barry's Empoleon and Ash's Pikachu. Despite a valiant effort from both sides, it's Pikachu who comes out on top, securing Ash's victory in the competition.

With the pearl now safe in their possession, our heroes confront Team Rocket in a final showdown. After a fierce battle, Ash and the gang successfully drive off the villains and save the day.

Afterwards, Ash and his friends are invited by Kenny to go fishing at his favorite spot. As they fish, a group of wild Buizel arrive, including Kenny's Buizel. The Buizel end up having a friendly game of Water Gun with Pikachu, showing off their impressive water abilities.

As the episode comes to a close, Ash and his friends bid farewell to Kenny and continue on their Sinnoh League journey. But before they leave Jubilife City, Ash finally gets the chance to battle and defeat the gym leader, earning his second Gym Badge.