The episode starts off with Pikachu storing up electricity. Dawn tells Pachirisu to store up electricity just like Pikachu. Pachirisu begins storing up electricity through its cheeks. Then it lets it all out at once. Dawn is training Pachirisu for the Pokémon contest. She thanks Pikachu for helping Pachirisu out. Dawn hopes to win a ribbon. Pachirisu then begins to beg Dawn for a poffin. Dawn gives a poffin to Pachirisu because it deserved it. Piplup gets a poffin, too. Then both of Dawn's Pokémon beg for more poffins, but Dawn says no. This makes Pachirisu upset, and it shocks the whole group. Pikachu dodges the shock, and shocks Pachirisu, knocking it out. Dawn sighs as her hair is ruined again.

Suddenly, someone shouts out DD at Dawn. Dawn recognizes the name right away and knows that only one person can know that name. She looks up and sees her friend, Kenny. Kenny greets Dawn. He notices that Dawn has a Pikachu, but Dawn tells him that the Pikachu belongs to her friend, Ash. Ash and Brock then introduce themselves to Kenny. Dawn explains to Kenny that she has been traveling together with Ash and Brock.

Jessie also plans on entering the contest. James and Meowth notice that Jessie acts like a whole new person when she is preparing for Pokémon contests. James wonders what Pokémon Jessie will use for the contest. Jessie points to all the Pokémon that other trainers have. Then she sends out Seviper and Dustox. She tells her Pokémon to capture any other Pokémon James and Meowth recommend.

Ash and co. are sitting at a table. Dawn explains that she has known Kenny ever since nursery school. Kenny went on his journey to become a Pokémon trainer before Dawn. Dawn tries to remember Kenny's first Pokémon. Kenny takes out a Pokéball and sends it out. A Prinplup appears. Ash looks up Prinplup in his Pokédex. Piplup walks over to Prinplup, and Prinplup pushes Piplup away. Kenny says that Prinplup doesn't like anyone invading its space. Piplup gets back up to its feet and tries to show Prinplup what it is made of. Dawn just wants them both to get along. Brock says that they are both penguin Pokémon, so they ought to be rivals.

Kenny states that he saw Dawn competing at the Jublife Pokémon contest. Dawn asks Kenny if he was watching the contest. Kenny tells her that he was on TV so he had to be competing in it. Kenny says that he once made it to the final round for his first ribbon, but he lost to a trainer named Zoey. That's where Zoey got her first ribbon from. Ash and Brock state that Zoey has well-trained Pokémon. Then Kenny asks Ash if he is also doing Pokémon contests. Dawn tells Kenny that Ash plans on entering the Sinnoh League. Even though Ash participated in a Pokémon contest before, he still loves gym battles more. After that, Dawn explains how she first met up with Ash and Brock.

Kenny decides to share some of his stories with Ash and Brock. His first story is that one time Dawn's mom got Dawn a haircut, a haircut that Dawn couldn't stand, so she tried to cut it herself. After Dawn was done cutting her hair, she looked like a Chimchar. Ash and Brock imagine Dawn's hair as a Chimchar's, and they burst out laughing. Then Kenny tells the story about when him and Dawn were in a play. Dawn accidentally sneezed in the middle of the play, and she knocked over the scenary. This makes Ash, Brock, Pikachu, and Piplup laugh even more. Then Kenny shares the story about how Dawn showed up to school in her pajamas while wearing two different shoes. This makes Dawn mad. She tells everyone that she is different now. Dawn wants to battle Kenny, but Kenny wants to battle Ash's Pikachu instead. Kenny wants to make his Prinplup stronger, so he wants to battle an opponent that is worthy. Ash agrees to the battle.

Everyone goes to a battlefield. Ash and Kenny both agree to a 1-on-1 battle. Dawn knows that Pikachu has the advantage because it is an electric type. Brock knows that it will be a good battle no matter who has the advantage. Pikachu starts off with a Thunderbolt. Prinplup blocks the Thunderbolt off with its Metal Claw attack. This surprises Ash and co. since the Thunderbolt had no effect on Prinplup. Prinplup then heads in using Drill Peck. It jumps into the air and then dives straight down. Pikachu dodges Prinplup's attack by spinning, and it hits Prinplup with its Iron Tail. Prinplup uses Bubblebeam to break its fall.

Meanwhile, James and Meowth are watching Ash's battle from behind the bushes. They notice that the Prinplup is a real challenge to Pikachu. Pikachu uses Iron Tail again. Prinplup protects itself with Metal Claw again. James and Meowth think that Prinplup is the perfect Pokémon for Jessie. James orders Seviper to use Haze. The smoke clouds the area. Ash sends out Staravia to blow the smoke away. When the smoke is cleared, Team Rocket is revealed. Seviper has Prinplup wrapped up in its body. Kenny knows that Prinplup can easily get out, but the Poison Sting from Dustox has weakened it. Then James sends out Cacnea and Carnivine. They use Pin Missile and Bullet Seed on Ash and Kenny. Pikachu and Piplup are ready for battle. Ash tells Pikachu that it can't use Thunderbolt because the attack may hurt Prinplup badly.

James and Meowth then order all their Pokémon to attack at once. Piplup uses a move called Whirlpool. The Whirlpool traps Team Rocket in, and it also restores Prinplup's health. Team Rocket tries to sneak away, but Dawn and Kenny catch them. They order their Pokémon to use Bubblebeam. The Bubblebeam attacks are fired at Team Rocket, and they blast off again.

Dawn is happy that Piplup was able to learn a new move right before the contest. Kenny thanks Piplup for saving his Prinplup. James and Meowth report back to Jessie that they have failed. Jessie is upset by this as she has to now use Seviper and Dustox for the contest. At night, Ash and co. are at a Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy comes out with Kenny's Prinplup. She reports that Prinplup is fine.

It is the next day, the day of the Pokémon contest. Mary recites an introduction for the contest. She then holds up the ribbon that one coordinator will win at the end of the contest. Afterwards, the judges are introduced. Then the contest begins. Dawn is the first coordinator to perform. She sends out Pachirisu. Pachirisu appears out of its Pokéball. It tries to balance on its tail, but it slips and falls. Kenny notices that Dawn isn't off to a good start. Pachirisu, scared, begins running in circles. Pikachu and Buneary cheer for Pachirisu, but it isn't working. Ash and Brock are worried about Dawn and Pachirisu. Suddenly, Dawn remembers something that might control Pachirisu. But will it be enough? Find out in the next episode of Pokémon.