Now that Ash has won a badge at Azalea Town, Ash and co. continue their journey in search for the next gym. Ash and co. are walking through a forest. Misty notices that the trees are very thick. Ash wonders if the forest even has a name. Brock looks at his map and finds out that they are in the Ilex Forest. Misty thinks the place is a bit creepy. Brock reassures her that all they have to do is follow the map, and they won't get lost. Misty tells Brock that he always says that, and they always get lost.

Team Rocket is also in the forest. They are very hungry. Meowth notices that Ash and co. are right in front of them, and Team Rocket decides to steal their food. Suddenly, Ash and co. hear someone say, "Cutting attack." They see a trainer trying to get his Farfetch'd to use "cutting" attack, but the Farfetch'd ignores the trainer. Ash and co. walk up to the trainer. The trainer is surpirsed to see Ash and co. He's embarrassed because Ash and co. saw him fail with getting his Farfetch'd to use a simple move. Ash tells the trainer that the attack is called "Cut" and not "Cutting". The trainer sighs and tells Farfetch'd to use Cut attack, but Farfetch'd still ignores him. Team Rocket continues to drag along. Their stomachs begin to growl because of their hunger. Jessie asks Meowth if they have any money. Meowth shows her an empty wallet.

The trainer introduces himself as Sylvester. He explains to Ash and co. that he is a beginning trainer, and that he is having a difficult time training Farfetch'd and remembering the attack names. Misty tells Sylvester that he will soon get it right with a little practice. Ash asks Sylvester if he plans on competing in the Johto League. Sylvester explains that he is training Farfetch'd so that he can make purifying charcoal just like his father. Brock has heard about purifying charcoal before, and he says that the stuff is amazing. Brock explains that he uses purifying charcoal with his cooking. Ash thinks that it's really cool to be able to make purifying charcoal. Sylvester tells them that he is still having some trouble making it, although his father is trying to teach him. He tells them that he was trying to get Farfetch'd to use Cut to make perfect blocks. Ash reassures Sylvester that he will soon be able to get it right if he keeps on trying.

At the Pokémon Center, Ash gives Professor Oak a call. He lets Professor Oak know that the GS Ball has been delivered to Kurt. Then Ash shows Professor Oak his new Lure Ball. Professor Oak wishes Ash the best of luck, and he ends the call. Ash joins his friends at a table. Brock uses his map to tell Ash and Misty that the closest gym is in Goldenrod City. Suddenly, Sylvester runs up to Nurse Joy and asks her if she has seen his Farfetch'd. Ash and co. walk up to Sylvester. They wonder why Farfetch'd isn't with him. Sylvester tells them that he was with Farfetch'd until he messed up some of the attacks again. Then Farfetch'd ran off. Nurse Joy thinks that Farfetch'd may be back at his father's house. Because Sylvester's father is very strict, Farfetch'd might have not want to disappoint him, so it ran back there. Ash tells Sylvester that they will go with him. If Farfetch'd isn't at Sylvester's father's house, then they will help look for it.

When they arrive at Sylvester's father's house, they see Sylvester's father with a Magmar. Sylvester walks up to his dad and asks him if he has seen Farfetch'd. Sylvester's dad gets angry at Sylvester because he lost Farfetch'd again. He gives Sylvester a lecture about how he should work with his Pokémon. Ash steps in and tells Sylvester's dad that he's being too hard on Sylvester. Ash introduces himself as a Pokémon trainer, and Sylvester's dad thinks that Ash should know what he's talking about. Sylvester's dad tells his son that he should act together like his Pokémon, and not just tell it what to do. He orders Sylvester to find Farfetch'd and not to come back until he does. Ash and co. runs out to find Farfetch'd.

Team Rocket continues to drag along the road. They still are very hungry. Meowth smells something good with his nose. James picks Meowth and uses Meowth to lead them towards the food. Meowth leads them to two pieces of bread. Jessie and Meowth gobble down the food, leaving James with nothing. Suddenly, they see a Farfetch'd walk by. They know that Farfetch'd are rare Pokémon, so they decide to catch this one and then auction it off to the highest bidder. Team Rocket creeps up towards Farfetch'd. James tries to catch it, but he misses.

Ash, Misty, and Brock notice that Sylvester's father has a hot temper, however using a Farfetch'd and Magmar to make charcoal is a genius plan. They walk up to a shrine. Sylvester says that he lost Farfetch'd somewhere near the shrine. They call out for Farfetch'd. No response. Sylvester sighs as the forest is very big and it could take weeks before they find Farfetch'd. Ash gets an idea. He thinks that they should all use their Pokémon to help find Farfetch'd. Ash, Misty, and Brock send out all their Pokémon. Brock returns Pineco back into its Pokéball right before it selfdestructs. Sylvester notices that the Pokémon don't look very interested in finding Farfetch'd. Nevertheless, they all go out to find Farfetch'd.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is trying to capture Farfetch'd, however they are having trouble with that. Jessie sends Meowth in battle, but Meowth gets beaten easily. Farfetch'd laughs at them. Jessie sends out Arbok and Lickitung. Arbok uses Poison Sting, but Farfetch'd uses its leek to avoid the attack. Team Rocket realizes that they have to grab the leek from Farfetch'd. Arbok reaches out to grab the leek, but Farfetch'd moves out of the way. Lickitung grabs Farfetch'd leek with its tongue. Jessie grabs the leek from Lickitung. Then Meowth ties up Farfetch'd in ropes, and Farfetch'd is placed in a net. Heracross sees Team Rocket with Farfetch'd, and it goes back to tell Ash.

Ash and Sylvester meet up with Team Rocket. Sylvester asks Team Rocket to give back Farfetch'd, or else he is going to be in trouble. Team Rocket tells him that they plan on selling Farfetch'd, and then they say their motto. Sylvester demands for Farfetch'd back. Jessie sends out Arbok and Lickitung to scare Sylvester. Then Meowth trips Sylvester, and Team Rocket begins to run away. Ash sends out Chikorita and Bulbasaur. The grass Pokémon use Razor Leaf to cut the net. Farfetch'd is free. Farfetch'd begins to fly back to Sylvester when Lickitung uses its tongue to catch it. Then James sends out Weezing and Victreebel. Weezing uses its Sludge attack to cover Ash, Sylvester, and their Ash's Pokémon with Sludge. To finish things off, Arbok fires a Poison Sting at them. Right before the Poison Sting can hit them, Onix comes out of the ground and takes in the attack.

Misty and Brock run towards Ash and Sylvester. Misty commands Poliwag to wash away the Sludge with its Water Gun attack. Poliwag gives Ash, Sylvester, and Ash's Pokémon a nice bath. Then they prepare to get Sylvester's Farfetch'd back. James doesn't want to give up yet. Weezing uses Smokescreen while Victreebel uses Razor Leaf. James cheers as the attacks do some damage. Squirtle fights back with Hydro Pump. The attack blows away the smoke. Then Bulbasaur, Chikorita, and Cyndaquil attack Team Rocket together. Sylvester wishes he could get his Farfetch'd to work for him the way Ash's Pokémon works for Ash. Misty and Brock tell Sylvester that they work as a team, and that Ash's Pokémon form one mind. Heracross then tackles Team Rocket. The force causes Jessie to drop the leek. Jessie and Sylvester dive for the leek, but Sylvester ends up getting it. He knows that he must work together with his Farfetch'd.

Sylvester throws his leek to Farfetch'd. Farfetch'd catches the leek, and then it pecks Lickitung to free itself. Team Rocket dive for Farfetch'd all at once, but Farfetch'd attacks them with its leek. Then Sylvester orders Farfetch'd to use Cut attack. Farfetch'd cuts down two trees to block Team Rocket's escape route. Finally, Pikachu shocks Team Rocket with its Thunderbolt, and Team Rocket blasts off again.

Ash tells Sylvester that he finally got Farfetch'd to use Cut attack. Sylvester is happy that his Farfetch'd is finally obeying him. Misty and Brock tell Sylvester that him and Farfetch'd make a great team. Sylvester learned a lot about team work by watching Ash battle. Then Sylvester asks Farfetch'd to cut the tree into blocks by using Cut attack. Farfetch'd concentrates for a few seconds, and then it cuts the tree into several blocks. All the blocks are perfect in size. Sylvester is glad that him and Farfetch'd are now a team. Then they bring the blocks back to Sylvester's father. Sylvester's father is very pleased with his son. As a way of saying thanks, Sylvester's father gives Brock a pack of charcoal. Sylvester wishes Ash the best of luck in the Johto League, and then they wave goodbye. Now Ash and co. head for Goldenrod City.

English Official Summary

An inexperienced young Trainer mistakenly scares off his own Farfetch'd. Ash and friends are happy to help, but will have to find it before Team Rocket, their stomachs as empty as their piggy bank, can get their hands on this savory Pokémon.

Italian Official Summary

Un giovane Allenatore alle prime armi spaventa inavvertitamente il suo Farfetch'd che scappa. I nostri eroi si offrono di aiutarlo ma dovranno battere sul tempo il Team Rocket!

Portuguese Official Summary

Um jovem treinador inexperiente consegue espantar seus próprios Farfetch'd. Nossos heróis se prontificam a encontrá-los, mas eles terão que fazê-lo antes da Equipe Rocket!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Un Entrenador joven y poco experimentado asustó a su propio Farfetch'd. Nuestros héroes están felices de ayudarlo, pero tendrán que hallarlo antes que el Equipo Rocket.

Spanish Official Summary

Un joven Entrenador sin experiencia asusta por error a su propio Farfetch’d.

English Great Britian Official Summary

An inexperienced young Trainer mistakenly scares off his own Farfetch'd. Ash and friends are happy to help, but will have to find it before Team Rocket, their stomachs as empty as their piggy bank, can get their hands on this savory Pokémon.

Dutch Official Summary

Een onervaren jonge Trainer is erin geslaagd zijn eigen Farfetch’d weg te jagen. Onze helden helpen hem graag, maar ze moeten hem vinden voordat Team Rocket dat doet!

French Official Summary

Un jeune Dresseur inexpérimenté effraie par erreur son propre Canarticho.

German Official Summary

Ein unerfahrener Trainer verscheucht versehentlich sein eigenes Porenta.