The episode begins in the middle of Silver Town, which is getting ready for the excitement of the upcoming Contest. Lots of people have gathered around the Contest hall, working with their Pokemon and watching the fireworks in the sky. May is also preparing, and calls out her young Squirtle who spins around in the air and then smiles cutely at her and the rest of the group including Combusken. May looks thoughtfully at her Pokemon, and wonders how can improve Squirtle's entrance. Squirtle looks a little rejected, and May quickly tires to reassure her Pokemon. She tells it that she'll be relying on it for the Appeal, and then asks Combusken if it's ready for the Contest Battle. Combusken seems more than ready however.

In the Contest building, a young man and older woman are walking down a hallway looking for someone. The young man wonders where he could be, and the woman says they should continue looking. May then runs up to the pair and asks them if they have seen her Squirtle, and then goes on to describe her Pokemon. The young man says that they haven't, and that they are busy looking for someone themselves. At this, the woman says that they should continue and the young man bids May goodbye. Just then, Ash, Brock and Max holding May's new egg appear and Ash asks what's wrong and May explains that she's lost Squirtle. Brock smiles and tells her not to worry... Squirtle is right here. At this, Squirtle appears from behind Brock's leg wearing lots of flowers. May hugs her Squirtle and says that she's happy it's okay.

Outside, Team Rocket have just found a poster for the Contest. James asks Jessie if she's going to enter, but Jessie says she'll pass... there's more important things to do right now. Jessie walks while saying this, and James wonders what's up.

Back in the Contest Hall, Lillian is making her usual grand speech to the audience who have come to watch. Ash is still amazed at how lively the Kanto Contests are, and Lillian continues, drawing the audience in and getting them excited. She then introduces the three judges for the Contest: Mr. Contesta, the Head of the Pokemon Fanclub, and the Nurse Joy of Silver Town. All of Coordinators for the Contest are then brought in and introduced, and the crowd cheer. Just as Lillian is about to get the Contest underway, a man runs up to Lillian and whispers something in her ear. Lillian nods and then tells the audience that one of their Coordinators is a little late. Lillian looks around to see if she can see him, but the Coordinator in question, wearing a suit and carrying a heavy bag, bursts through the door and tells her to stop, worried that he's been disqualified for being late. Lillian asks if he's Ogata, and he says that he is, breathing heavily after having to run very fast to get to the Contest hall in tme. He apologies over and over, and Lillian says that it's okay, and that he should line up with the other Coordinators... he tries to, but trips over causing the audience to snigger and laugh. May smiles, knowing the embarrassment of doing something like that, as her fellow Coordinators sneer at the smartly dressed man.

Lillian then starts the appeals off, and we see a Bellossom, an Exeggutor, and a Farfetch'd before May is introduced and allowed to do her appeal. May starts things off by sending out Squirtle. As soon as Squirtle comes out of its Pokeball, it starts to use Ice Beam while spinning around rapidly. This creates a beautiful rain of sparkles which rain down on Squirtle as it lands and bows. The crowd cheers, and Brock comments on how cute Squirtle looks. May then orders Squirtle to use Bubble, and Squirtle does so, creating lots of beautiful bubbles. The crowd look on in wonder, but the best is yet to come as Squirtle creates a huge bubble which floats in mid-air above the Contest Stage. May then calls for an Ice Beam, and Squirtle uses the attack to burst all the bubbles and create lots of icy sparkles before finishing up by using Ice Beam on the huge bubble to create a large ice sculpture! The crowd show their approval by clapping loudly, as do the judges.

Lillian then asks for Ogata to enter, and the crowd laughs, remembering the man's embarrassed antics from before. The laughing stops however, when the lights go dim and rock music starts to play as Ogata walks in... wearing heavy metal gear consisting of a leather jacket, black gloves and black trousers, finished off with a pair of shades. The total opposite of his smart suit. Ogata calls out his Butterfree, and orders it to use Stun Spore and Poison Powder at the same time to create a huge wave of orange and purple pollen. The whole hall is then lit up by a beautiful green light as Butterfree uses its most special move... but it's interupted by the young man and woman that May talked to before, who ask what in the world he is doing. Ogata looks at the two, and runs over with his appeal already ruined. The three argue, and the crowd look on in wonder as they bicker. The woman, who appears to be Ogata's wife, tells him to stop this nonsense and come back home. Ogata isn't have none of that however, and triesto explain that this, being a Coordinator and being in Contests, is something he enjoys doing. As he talks, he notices that the audience is watching him, all interesting in his speech and what he has to say. He thinks to himself that maybe he is being silly, and that he should listen to his wife. Just as it looks like he's going to do just that, May jumps in and makes a speech to Ogata about how he should be doing something he enjoys. Ogata thanks her, and smiles... she's right, he has to follow his dream. He says that he wants to create a great performance, and be a great Coordinator. Ogata bows to the audience, and asks them if they will forgive him and accept his appeal. One of the men in the crowd begins to clap, and the rest of the audience follow, all touched by his emotional speech.

Back with Team Rocket, we find them searching in some grass for something. James looks around, and Mime Jr copies his head searching.

In the Contest Hall, the next stage has begun as four coordinators are chosen to do battle. May and Combusken go up against a trainer and his Exeggutor, who they beat easily with Fire Spin. Ogata and his Venusaur also do well in their battle, going up against a girl and her Vileplume. Ogata's son watches the battle and is amazed by his father's battling skill.

The crowd cheers and Lillian announces the two finalists; May and Ogata. Ogata thanks May for her help earlier, and May smiles, saying she was happy to help. However, she'll be going all out in their battle and that he better get ready.

Outside, Ogata's son runs up to his mother and tells her that he managed to get to the final. She doesn't look too happy however, and her son tries to cheer her up. She isn't depressed though, as she remembers the days of her youth and when she first met her husband. A flashback starts, and shows her in the audience to a rock concert with Ogata up on stage, rocking out. She smiles, and remembers another time from her early days, walking through a forest with Ogata and his Ivysaur while asking him about being a Pokemon Trainer. Thinking back all those years, and remembering her husband's lust for Pokemon makes her realise and accept Ogata's feelings.

Back in the Contest Hall, the Final Battle is about to begin. May sends out Combusken and Ogata sends out Venusaur. Ogata doesn't waste anytime though, and orders Venusaur to use Razor Leaf. Venusaur does so, sending out a flurry of sharp leaves at Combusken. May counters by telling Combusken to use Fire Spin, which turns Venusaur's leaves to ashes. Before the attack can get to Venusaur, Ogata tells Venusaur to use Vine Whip. Venusaur fires its vines straight into the attack and ripping the flames apart. This counter lowers May's point's bar, much to her distress. Max looks at his sister worried, seeing his sister's points go down. As the crowd cheers, Ogata decides to get deadly serious and orders Venusaur to use Frenzy Plant. Lifting itself up and slaming hard on the ground, Venusaur creates several thorned vines which burst out of the floor. May and Combusken stare at the attack in shock, and Brock screams at her to look out, realising the dangerous attack for what it is. The attack is very fast however,and the vines rip towards Combusken and smack it straight in the chest even as it tries to dodge. Combusken falls to the ground, hurt. Combusken isn't the only one that's hurt however, as May's point counter goes right down to the last few slivers. May asks Combusken if it's okay, and Combusken struggles to get up.

Brock, from the audience, makes a remark about how strong Frenzy Plant is. In fact, it's a wonder Combusken was even able to get up after such a strong attack. Ash shouts at May to focus. May wonders what he could be talking about, but looks at Venusaur and realises that after such a strong attack, it must recharge... leaving it open to be attacked itself. Quickly, she orders Quick Attack, and then Peck. Combusken does so, charging at Venusaur and then stabbing away at its health. Ogata grits his teeth as he remembers the draw-back to using Frenzy Plant. Both Coordinators know that how fast Vensuaur recharging will decide the battle, and May knows that she'll have to finish it off before it can attack again... no such luck however, as Venusaur sways Combusken away. Ogata then orders another Frenzy Plant, much to Brock, Max and Ash's dismay. May tries to attack Venusaur with Combusken's Fire Spin, but the Frenzy Plant blocks the attack easily and then rips through the air again right at Combusken. May isn't bout to give up though, and orders Combusken to use Quick Attack to go straight at Venusaur. Ogata thinks he's got her now though, and tells Venusaur to use Frenzy Plant to hit Combusken when it hits one of the vines and stops. The vines smash straight into Combusken, and May is left with barely one point. That one point is enough however, and May orders her Pokemon to use Sky Uppercut. Combusken jumps onto on of the vines and runs straight at Venusaur. Reaching it's target, Combusken uses Sky Uppercut on the defenceless Pokemon and sends it smashing through the air and then crashing in the ground. With three seconds left, Venusaur is declared unable to battle and the crowd cheers.

All the Coordinators gather, and Lillian presents May with her ribbon. May spins, and celebrates with Squirtle and Combusken over their new ribbon.

Outside, Ogata walks silenty away before he is stopped by his wife and son. They congratulate him on such an awesome battle and say how proud and impressed they were. Ogata rubs his cheek in happy embarrassment, and the three walk off together, ready for home.

The episode ends with May, along with Ash, Max and Brock, watching the happy family walk off into the sunset.

Thanks to Alfonso for writing this for us