Ep 25. Strategy With a Smile

Ash and his friends continue their journey through the Sinnoh region and stumble upon a new town where they meet a young trainer named Nando. Nando appears to be a skilled strategist and battles Ash's friend, Dawn, using his Bug-type Pokémon against her Ice-type Pokémon. Despite her efforts, Dawn loses the battle, and Nando moves on to the next round of the local Pokémon contest.

Intrigued and impressed by Nando's unique approach to battling, Ash and his friends decide to stick around and watch the rest of the contest. They quickly realize that Nando is not only a skilled trainer but also a virtuoso musician and composer, using his music to inspire and boost the morale of his Pokémon during battles.

As the contest progresses, Ash and his friends begin to notice a troubling trend. Many of the trainers participating in the contest are solely focused on winning and neglecting the bonds they have with their Pokémon. In contrast, Nando's strategy seems to be centered around building strong relationships with his Pokémon, both inside and outside of battle.

As the contest nears its conclusion, Nando finds himself in the final round against a highly skilled and confident trainer named Zoey. Zoey had easily defeated all of her previous opponents and was widely considered the favorite to win the contest.

Nando starts off strong, using his unique strategies to gain the upper hand. However, Zoey is not one to be underestimated and quickly turns the tables, leaving Nando's Pokémon struggling to keep up. Nando manages to stay calm and composed, trusting in his bond with his Pokémon to guide him through the battle.

In a surprising turn of events, Nando's Pokémon start to sing and play music together, creating a beautiful and powerful harmonious melody that astonishes both the audience and judges. Zoey's Pokémon are caught off guard, and Nando seizes the opportunity to make a comeback and ultimately win the contest.

The episode ends with Ash and his friends bidding farewell to Nando, who teaches them the importance of building strong bonds with their Pokémon both in and out of battle.

Overall, "Strategy With a Smile" is a heartwarming and uplifting episode that stresses the significance of cultivating strong relationships in every aspect of life, including Pokémon training. The episode also highlights the importance of creativity and music in boosting morale and achieving success.