Ep 18. For Ho-Oh The Bells Toll!

Ash and his friends are still in Ecruteak City and are getting ready for the annual Bell Festival. The festival is held to honor the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, and the group is excited to take part in the festivities. However, trouble begins when a group of thieves show up and steal the town's Sacred Flame, an item that is vital to the festival.

The Sacred Flame is said to be lit by Ho-Oh himself, and without it, the festival cannot take place. Ash and his friends are determined to retrieve the flame and save the festival, but the thieves are no pushovers. They manage to evade the group time and time again, leading them on a wild goose chase through the city.

Along the way, the group meets up with a young girl named Sakura who is searching for her lost Togepi. Togepi is vital to the festival, as it is said to bring good luck to the town if it is present during the ceremony. Ash and his friends agree to help Sakura search for Togepi, hoping that it will somehow lead them to the Sacred Flame.

As the group searches for Togepi, they stumble upon an abandoned mine where they come face to face with the thieves. The thieves are revealed to be members of Team Rocket, who are after the Sacred Flame for their boss Giovanni. Ash and his friends engage Team Rocket in a battle, and despite their best efforts, Team Rocket manages to get away with the Sacred Flame once again.

Determined to save the festival, Ash and his friends hatch a plan to infiltrate Team Rocket's base and retrieve the Sacred Flame. With the help of Sakura and her powerful Pokémon, they manage to sneak into the base undetected and retrieve the Sacred Flame.

As the group races back to Ecruteak City with the Sacred Flame, they are confronted by Team Rocket once again. However, this time they are ready for them. In an epic battle, Ash and his friends manage to defeat Team Rocket once and for all and save the Sacred Flame.

With the Sacred Flame returned, the Bell Festival can finally begin. Ash and his friends are honored to be a part of the ceremony and witness Ho-Oh's graceful flight over the city. The festival is a huge success, and everyone is in high spirits, including Sakura, who is reunited with her beloved Togepi.

As the episode draws to a close, Ash and his friends bid farewell to Ecruteak City, excited for the adventures that lie ahead.