Ep 18. Old Rivals, New Tricks!

Ash and his friends are on their way to the Hearthome City Gym when they run into a familiar face, Paul, who has also come to challenge the Gym Leader. Paul has been training hard since their last encounter, and he now has two new Pokémon on his team, Electivire and Honchkrow. Ash is excited to battle Paul again, but he quickly learns that Paul hasn't changed his harsh training methods.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is also in Hearthome City, planning their latest scheme. Jessie and James are determined to catch a Magikarp so they can evolve it into a Gyarados and use it to take over the world. However, their attempts to catch one keep failing miserably.

Back at the Gym, Ash and Paul have both made it to the final round of the Gym Leader's challenge. During their battle, Ash is surprised to see Paul using some new tactics and strategies. It quickly becomes apparent that Paul is not the same trainer he was before. Ash is thrilled to see that Paul has grown as a trainer, but at the same time, he can't help but feel a little jealous.

After the battle, Ash and Paul have a heart-to-heart conversation about their past rivalry and their current goals. Paul reveals that he has a newfound respect for Ash's training methods and Pokémon philosophy, and that he considers Ash to be one of his greatest rivals. Ash is touched by Paul's words and feels proud of the progress his former rival has made.

As the day winds down, Team Rocket finally manages to catch a Magikarp, but it turns out to be a lot more trouble than they bargained for. The Magikarp is incredibly stubborn and refuses to evolve, causing chaos and mayhem everywhere it goes. In the end, Ash, Paul, and their Pokémon team up to help Team Rocket catch the wild Magikarp and return it to the wild where it belongs.

In the final scene, Ash and Paul both go their separate ways, but not before promising to meet again at the Sinnoh League. Ash feels more motivated than ever to train hard and challenge the best trainers in the region. He knows that Paul will be tough competition, but he's ready for the challenge. As they say their goodbyes, Ash realizes that even his old rivals can teach him something new.