Ep 8. A Tail with a Twist

Ash, May, Brock, and Max continue on their journey through Hoenn region. At the start of the episode, they come across a cute and injured Skitty who they quickly take to a nearby Pokémon center to be treated. There, they encounter the playful and vivacious Luna, the Skitty’s owner. Luna is thrilled to see her beloved Skitty, and the group learns that Luna is a performer in a traveling circus troupe.

While in the Pokémon center, the group also meet a Circus Clown named Benny. Benny mentions that Luna’s boss has been losing money lately, and that he’s looking for a way to make the shows more successful. After leaving the Pokémon center, the group run into Benny again who invites them to the circus tent. They are introduced to the circus performers, including the Bossa Nova Quartet, a group of skilled acrobats made up of four Ludicolo.

During the show, the group notices that a Mightyena has snuck into the tent, causing chaos and frightening the performers and the Pokémon spectators. The Mightyena is caught by the performers, but the group realizes that something is not right and that the Mightyena doesn't seem to be the cause of the chaos.

After some investigating, they find out that the Bossa Nova Quartet had let the Mightyena into the tent in an attempt to draw in more attention and money to the circus. They had been struggling to meet the Boss's expectations and were hoping to save their jobs. Ash and the group try to convince the Boss to stop pressuring the performers and allow them to perform in a way that is true to their strengths and passions.

However, the Boss is unimpressed with their suggestions, and they are forced to come up with alternative solutions. Luna suggests incorporating her Skitty into the act, using her ability to dance with ribbons in a way that is both impressive and adorable. The group help the performers practice their new routines relentlessly, ensuring that they put their best foot forward.

In the final scene of the episode, the group watches the new show and sees the Bossa Nova Quartet perform their routine with Skitty incorporated into the act. The audience is wowed by the performance, and the circus is saved from closing down. The episode ends with Benny thanking Ash and the group for helping out, and Luna expressing her gratitude to her Skitty and the team for all their help in saving the circus and the performers’ jobs. Overall a heartwarming and entertaining episode to watch!