Ep 35. The Totodile Duel

As Ash and friends continue on their journey through the Johto region, they stumble upon a group of trainers having a heated debate about who has the strongest Totodile. The argument reaches a boiling point when two trainers, a young boy named Jackson and his arrogant rival, reveal that they both have a Totodile of the same level and are eager to prove who deserves to be called the strongest.

Undeterred by Jackson's kind and humble nature, the rival's insults to him and his Totodile upset Ash and he decides to challenge the arrogant trainer on behalf of Jackson. Ash and the rival agree to a full-on battle with their Totodiles as the stars, but both trainers soon realize that their Pokemon are evenly matched, leaving the outcome of the duel uncertain.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has also taken an interest in the Totodile duel and devises a plan to steal all of the Totodiles in the area, including Ash's, in order to hand them over to their boss. As Ash and the rival continue their clash, Jessie, James, and Meowth launch their scheme, causing chaos in the middle of the battle and putting all of the Totodiles in danger.

The situation quickly spirals out of control as the trainers and their Pokemon work together to protect the defenseless Totodiles from Team Rocket's clutches. In the end, Ash and the rival are forced to put their battle on hold to team up and take down Team Rocket, ultimately saving the Totodiles and earning a newfound respect for each other in the process.

As the episode comes to a close, Jackson offers Ash and his friends a place to stay for the night and shares his wisdom and experiences as an experienced trainer. The Totodile duel may have ended in a stalemate, but the friendships and bonds forged through the challenge will last a lifetime.