The episode starts out with Lucian and Cynthia battling each other in the Pokémon League. Lucian's Bronzong attacks Cynthia's Garchomp. Ash and co. are watching the battle on TV. Brock says that the battle is really good. Garchomp was able to survive the attack from Bronzong. It heads towards Bronzong with its Giga Impact and hits it. Bronzong is knocked out, making Cynthia the champion of Sinnoh. A boy runs up to everyone and states that Cynthia is nearby in Ebony Square. Ash and co. wants to see Cynthia in person, so they run out.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is selling ice cream. One of their first customers is Cynthia who is taking a long time deciding what flavor of ice cream she wants. She finally decides and Jessie gives her the ice cream. Team Rocket sigh in relief now that Cynthia has left. Cynthia then walks up to Ebony Square. A lot of trainers are there already admiring Cynthia. Brock falls in love with Cynthia, scaring Dawn. Soon Paul appears at the scene. Ash is glad to see Paul since they haven't seen each other in awhile. Ash asks Paul how many badges he has, but Paul doesn't answer him. Paul walks up to Cynthia and challenges her to a battle. A lot of the nearby trainers are surprised that someone like Paul would even think about battling Cynthia since she is the champion. However, Cynthia does accept Paul's challenge. They agree on a 6-on-6 battle.

Cynthia sends out Garchomp. Ash looks up Garchomp in his Pokédex. Paul sends out Chimchar. The crowd is skeptical about Paul's choice since it is at a disadvantage towards Garchomp. Chimchar starts off with Fire Spin. The Fire Spin hits Garchomp, but it doesn't do much damage. Chimchar then digs into the ground. Cynthia orders Garchomp to dig too. Garchomp soon comes out from the ground and beats Chimchar. Paul returns Chimchar back into its Pokéball and scolds it. Ash notices that Paul still isn't treating his Pokémon nicely.

Paul's second Pokémon is Weavile. Dawn looks up Weavile in her Pokédex. Cynthia states that Weavile is a good match up since Ice types have an advantage towards Dragons. Weavile starts off with a Blizzard attack. The attack hits Garchomp, but Garchomp is able to endure the attack. It then uses Dragon Rush. Weavile uses Ice Beam, but Garchomp dodges the attacks. Weavile is soon hit hard with the Dragon Rush attack, and it faints.

Paul's third Pokémon is Murkrow. Ash is surprised that Paul had a Murkrow. Dawn looks up Murkrow in her Pokédex. Murkrow starts the battle off with a Haze attack. Garchomp dodges the attack by jumping in the air. Murkrow quickly flies behind Garchomp and charges towards it with Sky Attack. Garchomp counters with Giga Impact. Both Pokémon collide into each other, but Murkrow falls since Garchomp is stronger.

Paul returns Murkrow back into its Pokéball and smilies. Ash and co. wonder what Paul is similing about since he already lost three Pokémon. Paul sends out a Torterra. Ash looks up Torterra in his Pokédex. Torterra uses Giga Drain, and the attack hits. Dawn wonders why Garchomp didn't even attempt to dodge the attack. Brock explains that when Giga Impact is used, it takes awhile for the Pokémon to charge back up. Paul is using this to his advantage. The Giga Drain has nearly sucked out all of Garchomp's energy. Torterra then uses Frenzy Plant. Paul hopes that Frenzy Plant will finish Garchomp off, but instead Garchomp protects itself from the Frenzy Plant. Paul is shocked that Garchomp is still standing. Garchomp jumps into the air and hits Torterra with its Brick Break attack. Torterra faints, and Paul brings Torterra back inside its Pokéball.

The battle comes to an end with Cynthia the winner. The crowd thinks Paul was stupid for challenging Cynthia in the first place. Ash, on the other hand, has more respect for Paul. Paul says goodbye to Cynthia and then he begins to walk away. Ash tells Paul that he is going the wrong way since the Pokémon Center is in the opposite direction. Cynthia tells Paul that it is a trainer's responsibility to get the Pokémon healed. However, when they arrive at the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy is unable to heal Paul's Pokémon since she is in the middle of a surgery right now. Cynthia states that she will heal them herself.

Cynthia starts out by getting out a Potion and spraying it all over on Torterra. She explains that the attack from Garchomp produced a shock on Torterra's whole body. When she is done healing Torterra, she gives Chimchar a pill to take. The pill makes Chimchar feel better, and then it gets some rest. Cynthia reports back to Paul when she has finished healing all of his Pokémon. She tells them that they are very well trained, especially Chimchar. Paul doesn't care since Chimchar didn't do so well when he battled Cynthia. Ash begins to tell Paul that he doesn't care enough for his Pokémon. Ash states that when Paul's Pokémon were getting beaten by Giga Impact, Paul didn't care. All Paul wants to do is win battles just for the sake of winning them. Paul replies back that his Pokémon will get spoiled if he cared about them so much, and then they won't try hard enough. Ash fights back by saying Paul is wrong and that he should love his Pokémon and support them. Paul will never get stronger if he keeps battling his own way. Paul tells Ash that he will get stronger his own way. Cynthia cuts into their fight and states that she knows a way for them to become stronger.

Cynthia leads Ash and co. back to the battlefield. A tablet rests near it. She tells them that her life was changed when she read the words on the tablet, and she begins to read them out to Ash and co. When she is done reading the words, Cynthia explains that she always wanted to meet all the Pokémon and form relationships with them. Meeting new Pokémon to her was just like meeting a new person. One of Cynthia's goals is to meet Dialga and Palkia sometime in the future. Ash and co. agree that it would be great if that were to happen.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is inside the Pokémon Center looking at Paul's Pokémon. They plan on stealing them all. Soon, Nurse Joy walks in to the room. She spots Team Rocket. Team Rocket knows that they have been caught. James quickly grabs Chimchar and they make their escape out from the window. Ash and co. sees Team Rocket stealing Chimchar. They begin to chase Team Rocket. Team Rocket, however, makes it into their balloon. Chimchar soon wakes up. It spits fire out at Team Rocket. Then Paul sends out Ursaring. Ursaring uses Hyper Beam at Team Rocket. Chimchar quickly jumps out of the balloon before the Hyper Beam hits. When it does hit, Team Rocket blasts off again.

Paul walks up to Chimchar and yells at it for being captured by Team Rocket. Ash and Dawn tell Paul that Chimchar was sleeping when it happened. Cynthia breaks up the fight and states that the only important thing is that Chimchar is safe. Cynthia suggests that Paul stays with his Pokémon at the Pokémon Center overnight. Paul agrees since it will make him stronger.

Back at the Pokémon Center, a news flash is seen on TV. A group of researchers have finally found the Lustrous Orb, the orb that is related to Palkia, similar to the Adamant Orb. The orb was found in Celestic Town. Cynthia is of course going to make her way there next. Ash and co. say goodbye to Cynthia, and they begin to make their way towards Hearthome City once again.

English Official Summary

When word gets out that Champion League Master Cynthia is in town, our heroes can't resist a chance to meet her in person. But Paul is also in town, and he can't resist challenging Cynthia to a battle! The local Trainers are shocked that he has the nerve to challenge the Champion, and they're even more shocked when Cynthia agrees to a 6-on-6 battle. Against her mighty Garchomp, Paul's Pokémon don't stand a chance: Garchomp knocks out his Chimchar, Weavile, Murkrow, and even his Torterra! The battle ends there, and Cynthia has to remind Paul to take his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center right away. She even helps care for his Pokémon when Nurse Joy is called away to another urgent case. Ash tries to convince Paul that his training methods are too harsh, but Paul doesn't care and Ash starts to lose his temper. Ever the diplomatic one, Cynthia steps in to gently remind Paul that there's more to traveling with Pokémon than simply trying to be strong. While Cynthia gives our heroes a history lesson, Team Rocket sneaks into the Pokémon Center and steals Paul's Chimchar as it's sleeping. Paul and our heroes discover the kidnapping and Paul sends out yet another of his Pokémon—an Ursaring! Ursaring hits Team Rocket with a Hyper Beam and Chimchar escapes, but Paul is annoyed that it let itself be captured in the first place. Before she leaves for Celestic Town, Cynthia politely suggests that Paul take time to bond with his Pokémon. As for our heroes, she's given them something to think about... but it remains to be seen if her words managed to touch Paul!

French Official Summary

Lorsqu'ils apprennent que la reine de la Ligue des Champions Cynthia est en ville, nos héros ne résistent pas à la tentation d'aller la rencontrer en personne. Mais Paul est également sur place et il n'hésite pas une seconde à lui proposer un duel !

German Official Summary

Auf ihrem Weg nach Herzhofen treffen unsere Helden auf Cynthia, den Champ der Sinnoh-Liga. Ashs Rivale Paul fordert sie vor ihren Augen zum Kampf auf!

Italian Official Summary

Quando si sparge la voce che Camilla, Campione della Lega Pokémon della regione di Sinnoh, è in città, i nostri eroi non resistono alla voglia di incontrarla di persona. Anche Paul è in città, desideroso di sfidare Camilla!

Portuguese Official Summary

A caminho da Cidade de Hearthome, nossos heróis encontram Cynthia, a Campeã da Liga de Sinnoh que está batalhando o rival de Ash, Paul!

Finnish Official Summary

Matkalla Hearthome Cityyn sankarimme kohtaavat Cynthian, Sinnoh-liigan mestarin, joka ottelee Ashin kilpailijan Paulin kanssa!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

En su camino hacia Ciudad Corazonada, nuestros héroes se encuentran con Cynthia, la Campeona de la Liga Sinnoh, ¡y está luchando contra el rival de Ash, Paul!

Spanish Official Summary

Cuando se corre la voz de que la Campeona de la Liga Pokémon, Cintia, está en la ciudad, nuestros héroes no pueden evitar intentar conocerla en persona. Pero Polo también está en la ciudad, ¡y no puede evitar el retar a Cintia a un combate!

English Great Britian Official Summary

When word gets out that Champion League Master Cynthia is in town, our heroes can't resist a chance to meet her in person. But Paul is also in town, and he can't resist challenging Cynthia to a battle! The local Trainers are shocked that he has the nerve to challenge the Champion, and they're even more shocked when Cynthia agrees to a 6-on-6 battle. Against her mighty Garchomp, Paul's Pokémon don't stand a chance: Garchomp knocks out his Chimchar, Weavile, Murkrow, and even his Torterra! The battle ends there, and Cynthia has to remind Paul to take his Pokémon to the Pokémon Center right away. She even helps care for his Pokémon when Nurse Joy is called away to another urgent case. Ash tries to convince Paul that his training methods are too harsh, but Paul doesn't care and Ash starts to lose his temper. Ever the diplomatic one, Cynthia steps in to gently remind Paul that there's more to traveling with Pokémon than simply trying to be strong. While Cynthia gives our heroes a history lesson, Team Rocket sneaks into the Pokémon Center and steals Paul's Chimchar as it's sleeping. Paul and our heroes discover the kidnapping and Paul sends out yet another of his Pokémon—an Ursaring! Ursaring hits Team Rocket with a Hyper Beam and Chimchar escapes, but Paul is annoyed that it let itself be captured in the first place. Before she leaves for Celestic Town, Cynthia politely suggests that Paul take time to bond with his Pokémon. As for our heroes, she's given them something to think about... but it remains to be seen if her words managed to touch Paul!

Russian Official Summary

По пути в Хартхоум Сити наши герои встречают Синтию, чемпионку Лиги Синно. И она сражается с соперником Эша Полом!

Dutch Official Summary

Onderweg maar Hearthome City, kruisen onze helden het pad van Cynthia, de Kampioen van de Sinnoh League—en zij vecht tegen Paul, de rivaal van Ash!

Norwegian Official Summary

På vei til Hearthome City, møter de på Cynthia, seierskvinnen i Sinnoh League - og hun kjemper mot Ash sin rival Paul!

Swedish Official Summary

På väg mot Hearthome City korsas våra hjältars väg av Cynthia, Sinnoh-ligans Mästerskapsmästare, som är i full färd med att strida mot Ashs rival Paul!

Danish Official Summary

På vej til Hearthome City møder vore helte Sinnoh-ligamesteren Cynthia – og hun kæmper mod Ashs rival Paul!