Skyler takes them to his home, where they meet his father - a designer of Pokémon-shaped balloons. There's a competition coming up, and Ash wants to enter. As it happens, Skyler's father has a spare Pikachu balloon.

They go out for a test flight, where the gang learns that they're allowed to use their Pokémon to help. Skyler and his father explain the concepts, and Ash sends out Noctowl to pull the balloon. He soon finds that this isn't as easy as it looks.

Team Rocket learn about the contest, and discover that the prize is a high-tech hot-air balloon engine. They decide to enter so that they can use the engine to make faster getaways. Meowth insists on entering honestly, so that he can prove he's a great balloon pilot, but at night, Jessie and James sabotage other balloons.

The following day, the race begind, but several balloons drop out immediately, filled with holes. Skyler and his father phone Ash, warning them to check their equipment. Ash accuses Team Rocket of sabotaging the balloons, but Meowth insists that they're playing honestly.

Deciding that it's time to reveal the true plan, James releases Weezing, whose smokescreen causes even more balloons to drop from the sky. Meowth tries to stop them, not wanting to be disqualified, but then Jessie has Arbok use Poison Sting to get rid of another balloon. They tie Meowth to the balloon, and when they get to a storm cloud, they use rocket boosters.

Suddenly, having sustained damage from Arbok's Poison Sting, the burner goes out. Taking advice from Skyler's father, Ash sends out Cyndaquil, who uses its Flamethrower to keep the balloon in the air. It's close, but Cyndaquil manages to stop the balloon from crashing.

Seeing Ash's and Skyler's balloons fly out of the storm clouds, James releases rocket missiles. The two balloons stay in the air, and Ash sends Noctowl after the balloon, with Pikachu on its back. Skyler sends his Fearow, who destroys the missile launcher with its Drill Peck. Finally, Pikachu finishes them with a Thunderbolt.

Reaching the end at last, Ash and Skyler throw their marker at the target, earning a tied first place. Ash chooses to give Skyler the balloon engine, since they don't need one.

This episode guide has been written by Iceduck.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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