Ep 17. Espeon, Not Included

After a victorious gym battle, Ash and his friends stop to rest and recuperate. During their break, Ash decides to let his Pokémon out to play and train. However, one of his Pokémon, a newly evolved Espeon, seems to be missing. The group splits up to search for Espeon, but their efforts are in vain.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has set up camp nearby, planning their next scheme. They stumble upon Espeon, who is lost and frightened. They see this as an opportunity to capture the rare and powerful Pokémon. Espeon manages to escape their clutches and runs off into the woods.

As the search for Espeon continues, Ash and his friends come across a group of psychic Pokémon who are in trouble. They are being held captive by a group of trainers who are using their powers for their own selfish purposes. The group decides to free the psychic Pokémon and engage in a battle with the trainers.

During the battle, Espeon appears and helps the group win. They thank Espeon and ask why she ran off in the first place. Espeon reveals that she was feeling overwhelmed by her new powers and needed some alone time to sort things out. Ash and his friends reassure her and promise to help her master her powers.

The group returns to their journey with a newfound appreciation for the importance of balance and taking time to reflect and recharge.