Learning about Hoenn's Joys and Jennies, the group help Jenny search for a Poacher, Rico. Taillow and Zigzagoon then participate in their first battle. When Team Rocket steal Mudkip, Nicolai uses his various costumes to stop them. After Nicolai uses his Zigzagoon costume to save Max from a pack of Zigzagoon, the odd trainer then captures one for himself. Nicolai challenges May to her first battle and wins with Mudkip. After crushing the Rockets, the group then enjoy lunch.ДЄsh starts the day by winning his first Hoenn trainer battle, and the group soon meet the odd Nicolai the Knickerbocker inside his Zigzagoon costume. Brock warns that catching Taillow is the only way to stop, causing Ash's first Hoenn capture. Brock starts on lunch while the leader Taillow, influenced by Team Rocket, persistently fights Pikachu. Brock rejoins the group, using Forretress' Explosion to stop the Taillow. Stuck in Petalburg Woods without lunch, a wild Taillow eats the group's last bit of food and soon the kids are attacked by a whole pack of Taillow. Norman then gives Badge Cases to the duo and a Pok?Nav to Max, who joins Ash and May. Ash saves his friends and Pikachu and Vigoroth defeat the Rockets easily. Team Rocket accidently steal Torchic and trap everyone in pitfalls, but. May reveals she's the daughter of Caroline and Leader Norman, whose Vigoroth's power defeats Pikachu in an unofficial battle. The two arrive in Petalburg City, and Ash meets Max, May's annoying little brother, posing as the Gym Leader. The duo then see ancient Relicanth when sunlight opens a hidden passage. The Magmas open the ruins, but abandon operations when they don't find what they came for. That night, Team Magma attack the Center and kidnap Alden, searching for important info hidden within the Ruins. Ash and May also meet Professor Alden, who is investigating the secrets of the Oldale Ruins. May, who wants to travel, and her new Torchic, then join up with Ash instead.ДЇailing her first Pok?mon capture, May takes Torchic to her first Pok?mon Center, meeting her first Joy. With Pikachu's health restored, it destroys Team Rocket and May's bike. Team Rocket's new Mecha attacks, absorbing all of Pikachu's built up electricity. May also arrives in Littleroot and helps the Professor when he gets attacked by some wild Poochyena searching for Pikachu. Arriving in Hoenn's Littleroot Town, Ash heads to Professor Birch's Lab to get Pikachu healed, but the Pok?mon runs off.

Pokemon get the show on the road