Ep 17. Big Brother to the Rescue!

Ash and his friends continue their journey through the Hoenn region, and in this episode, they stumble upon a young boy named Max being bullied by a group of older boys. Ash and his friends quickly intervene to stop the bullying, and they learn that Max is the younger brother of their new friend, May.

May is worried about leaving Max alone while she goes on her Pokemon journey, so Ash and the gang offer to keep an eye on him. They soon find out that Max has a passion for Pokemon battling and has been studying up on all the different types of Pokemon and battling strategies. Max even has his own Pokemon, a Ralts that he is determined to train into a powerful fighter.

One day, while Max is practicing with his Ralts, they stumble upon a group of wild Pokemon that have been injured by a group of poachers. Max immediately springs into action, using his knowledge of Pokemon to heal the injured creatures and help them fend off the poachers.

However, things take a dangerous turn when the poachers come back with reinforcements and the wild Pokemon are outnumbered. Max and his Ralts are in over their heads, but just when all seems lost, Ash and his Pokemon arrive to help. The group of friends work together to fight off the poachers, and with Max's expert knowledge of Pokemon, they are able to outsmart and defeat the villains.

After the battle, Max realizes that he doesn't have to be afraid of anything as long as he has his Pokemon and his friends by his side. May, Ash, and the gang continue on their journey, knowing that they have made a new ally in Max and his Ralts.