Ep 39. One Trick Phony

Ash, Misty, and Brock are traveling towards Fuchsia City, the site of Ash's next gym battle. Along the way, they come across a street performer named Dario, who has trained his Meowth to perform incredible feats like balancing on a ball and juggling Poké Balls. Ash and his friends are impressed by Dario's skills, but when they watch his performance again, they begin to suspect that something fishy is going on.

When they confront Dario, he admits that he's actually a con artist who tricks people into making bets on Meowth's performances. He's been using an incredibly powerful remote control to control Meowth's movements and make it seem like it's performing these amazing stunts on its own. Ash and his friends are disappointed to learn that Dario is a fraud, but Dario makes an offer: if Ash can beat him in a Pokémon battle, he'll hand over his remote control.

Ash accepts the challenge, and the two trainers face off in a Pokémon battle. Dario's Meowth is surprisingly strong, using its agility and intelligence to dodge Ash's attacks. However, Ash and Pikachu are able to come up with a strategy to level the playing field. When it looks like Ash is about to win, Dario suddenly pulls out a new trick: a disguise made to look like Ash's Pikachu. With Ash momentarily distracted, Dario's Meowth lands a powerful blow and claims victory.

Dario celebrates his victory and prepares to leave with his remote control, but Ash and his friends aren't ready to let him go just yet. They confront Dario about his cheating, but he insists that cheating is just a part of the game. Ash and Dario argue back and forth about what it means to be a true Pokémon trainer, ultimately coming to an understanding. Dario hands over his remote control to Ash, admitting that he's not cut out to be a real trainer.

As the episode comes to a close, Ash and his friends continue on their journey to Fuchsia City, reflecting on what they've learned from their encounter with Dario. Although they may face challenges and cheaters along the way, they know that the true magic of Pokémon comes from the bond between a trainer and their Pokémon.