While heading for Eterna City, Ash and the others come across a trainer and his defeated Zigzagoon. He tells them that he was attacked by a wild Buziel that is incredibly strong. They decide to go after it so that one of them can capture them. At the river they encounter Zoey, who is looking for a Water-Type. They finally encounter the Buizel, but one by one, Piplup, Glameow, and Pikachu are all defeated. They then follow Buizel to its training ground and try the same training. At the same time they must also defeat Team Rocket, who want Buizel to themselves.
A young boy named Ash Ketchum embarks on a journey to become a "Pokemon Master" with his first Pokemon, Pikachu. Joining him on his travels are Brock, a girl-obsessed Rock Pokemon Trainer, and Misty, a tomboyish Water Pokemon Trainer who may have a crush on him. Ash and Co. end up traveling through various regions, including Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto, and then enter the Pokemon League competitions there.
Along the way, they run into many confrontations with Jessie, James, and Meowth, a trio of Pokemon thieves who are apart of an evil organization called "Team Rocket". But every time Team Rocket try to do their evil deeds, they fail thanks to Ash and his Pokemon.