In the forest just outside Veilstone City, the group witness a young female martial-artist and a Lucario in a fierce battle. The girl is revealed to be Maylene, the city's Gym Leader, at which point Ash immediately asks for a Gym Battle. However, she recently lost to Ash's rival Paul, and is depressed over her defeat. Further insight into the matter is revealed by Reggie, Paul's older brother. Reggie also helps Ash's Staravia learn Brave Bird.

The episode was rated 6.94 from 17 votes.

Ash's group encounters a Pokémon Breeder working on the construction of a stone bridge. The woman is arguing with the bridge's designer because of their Pokémon assistant Bibarel's refusal to work. After the stone cutter returns, Bibarel begins to construct the bridge, with help from the gang.

The episode was rated 6.94 from 17 votes.

When on their way to Pastoria City, Ash and friends meet a trainer named Tyler that wants to catch a Yanma. But Team Rocket ends up catching it after he weakened it. After Jessie captures the Yanma and sends it to Giovanni, who rejects it, she decides to train it herself and it quickly evolves into Yanmega.

The episode was rated 6.94 from 18 votes.

After a practice battle between Ash's Chimchar and Dawn's Piplup, Chimchar begins to cry because Ash was nice to it even though it lost, and Paul wasn't. Things get worse when a trio of Zangoose attack and Chimchar has to face its fear and eventually defeats them and overcomes its fear of Zangoose. Chimchar also receives some unexpected advice from Meowth about the future.

The episode was rated 6.97 from 33 votes.

Ash has a battle with Paul. Choosing a one-on-one battle, Paul chooses Honchkrow, and Ash chooses Turtwig. Honchkrow manages to drive Turtwig into a corner, but at the last moment, Turtwig evolves into Grotle. However, Grotle loses all its agility and loses to Honchkrow anyway. Paul then reveals to Ash that he has already obtained the Hearthome City gym badge. Afterwards, Brock confronts Paul that he met his older brother Reggie over a missing Frontier Brain symbol, which in turn, partially reveals Paul's captious nature of becoming strong. Grotle gets up late that night and unsuccessfully tries to regain its agility. Paul's Torterra shows up and comforts Grotle by showing it that speed isn't everything about battles. Torterra tells Grotle that it can also rely on defense. Torterra shows an example with Ash's Gliscor using a Steel Wing straight to the head. Torterra emerges unscathed, and Grotle resumes to its normal behavior.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 22 votes.

Ash and Brock's old friend May, still training to become a Top Coordinator, visits Sinnoh for the Wallace Cup. Upon arrival at the Seven Stars Restaurant, they find out that only those who win a tag-battle against the restaurant's owners can eat there. Ash partners with Brock and win the double combat with a single move. Before Dawn and May's combat, Team Rockets steals all food from the restaurant. May and Dawn partner up and defeat both the Team Rocket and the restaurant's owners, the later by using Blaziken and Piplup together to create a fantastic fire/water combination. There is a cameo from Drew, Harley, and Max.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 18 votes.

Buizel is more interested in Ash's gym training, and Aipom is more interested in Dawn's contest training. Thus, Zoey suggests that Ash and Dawn do a trade.

The episode was rated 7.00 from 22 votes.

While Ash and friends are training at the Summer Academy, they are taught how to deal with Ghost-Type Pokémon, should they ever run into them. They are then paired up to find a hidden treasure. While searching, Conway has a run-in with a Dusknoir.

The episode was rated 7.05 from 20 votes.

With Ash acquiring the Cobble Badge, our heroes decide to spend the night in Veilstone City before heading out. Reggie takes the group to a park with several meteoric stones lie. However, Team Galactic appears and try to steal them for their world domination plans.

The episode was rated 7.07 from 15 votes.

In Solaceon Town, Ash's group meets up with Dawn's old friend and rival Kenny and his new Pokémon, Breloom. Kenny tells them he is going to the Solaceon Ruins, a place of worship for the legendary Dialga and Palkia, so they tag along, only to get more than they bargained for when the Unown that live in the ruins become furious along with the appearance of the sinister Team Galactic. Among the chaos, Aipom evolves into Ambipom

The episode was rated 7.20 from 20 votes.

Gardenia reappears in a town, organizing a special exhibition battle for the town's children. She teams herself with James of Team Rocket in a match against Ash and Dawn. She proposes that James should leave his Cacnea with her to train when he is unable to use it to its full potential. He eventually decides to accept the offer.

The episode was rated 7.29 from 24 votes.

Dawn competes against Kenny in the Solaceon Town Contest, looking for redemption after her crushing loss in Hearthome City. Jessie of course enters. Dawn loses once again and Kenny and Jessie face-off in the finals. Jessie defeats Kenny and wins her first ribbon. Zoey tells Dawn that the overuse of Swift caused Ambipom to be no longer seen and the point of an Appeal is to show off the Pokémon.

The episode was rated 7.32 from 19 votes.

Maylene finally accepts Ash's challenge. Ash uses Staravia, Chimchar, and Buizel against Machoke, Meditite, and Lucario. The battle between Buizel and Lucario ends up in a tie but Maylene still gives Ash the Cobble Badge.

The episode was rated 7.47 from 19 votes.

On their travels, Ash and his friends meet up with another Pokémon Ranger—Kellyn—and a Riolu. It turns out that Hunter J is after Riolu, due to its ability to use Aura Sphere before evolving. Ash and Riolu start to bond with their shared Aura, but J is insistent on getting it. This episode relates to the secret mission in Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia, from which the player can transfer a Riolu that knows Aura Sphere to their copy of Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum.

The episode was rated 7.50 from 18 votes.

Hunter J has managed to kidnap Riolu. But despite that, Riolu, reveals his whereabouts to Ash, using its Aura. With Rangers Kellyn and Solana joining them, Ash and his friends go to hunt down Hunter J and get Riolu back. However, J is far more formidable than anyone could have anticipated. Will Ash and friends be able to return Riolu back to its kingdom?

The episode was rated 7.60 from 20 votes.