Ash and co. are walking back to Pallet Town. Tracey can't wait until they get to Pallet Town. Ash thinks that Tracey could show Professor Oak his sketches. Tracey already has a big pile of sketches to choose from. Ash suggests that Tracey does the picking at his house. Then they can have lunch. Ash can't wait to see the look on his mom's face when he gets home. He opens the door hears Brock's voice. Ash slides across the hallway and into the kitchen walls. Misty wonders what Brock is doing here. Brock notices Tracey right away. He gives everyone a cup of tea. Ash and Misty thought that Brock was going to stay on Volencia Island. Ash talks about Professor Ivy causing Brock to get in a corner. Misty thinks that Professor Ivy must've dumped him.

Ash's mom comes in the door. Ash runs to his mother, but his mother is interested in Pikachu. Mrs. Ketchum asks Misty how she is doing, and Misty tells her that everything is fine. She welcomes Tracey in the household too. Misty asks Mrs. Ketchum on the amount of time Brock has been staying at her house. Mrs. Ketchum tells a story about how she found Brock. Brock has been a really good guest and helps clean the house up. The only problem is that Brock always wants to do Mr. Mime's chores. Ash wonders what the problem is, and Misty and Tracey tells Ash that his is immature as Gary. Mrs. Ketchum decides to make Ash's favorite food. Tracey is trying to get Ash's attention, but Ash ignores him. Tracey yells about seeing Professor Oak. Ash almost forgot. He takes out the GS Ball and the trophy. He gives the trophy to his mother who plans on using it as excersise equipment. They then all head out for Professor Oak's lab.

Team Rocket has Ash and co. spotted. James suggests that they should call the boss first to let him know that they are still seeking Pikachu. Meowth reminds him that they haven't caught a single Pokémon yet. They can't call the boss until the steal a Pokémon. James sees Brock again. Ash and co. finally arrives at Professor Oak's lab. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ketchum finishes polishing the trophy, and she sets it on the table. Ash and co. walks inside the lab. Ash walks around when suddenly Muk tramples him. Professor Oak comes out from underneath Muk. Tracey introduces himself to Professor Oak. Professor Oak says hello everyone. Then Ash gives the GS Ball to Professor Oak. Professor Oak puts the GS Ball on a shelf, and he offers a tour around the lab.

Ash sees Snorlax eating from a window. Then it goes back to sleep. Tracey sees something from the distance. Ash tells him that those are his Tauros. Professor Oak tells them that the Tauros love the wide open spaces. Ash sends out his Tauros that he used earlier to join the group. Kingler walks up to Ash, and he says hello to it. Kingler jumps into the water and looks very happy. Tracey begins to sketch when he sees Professor Oak peering from his shoulder. Everyone heads back to the lab where Tracey shows Professor Oak his other sketches. Tracey appears to be very nervous. He is so nervous that the whole couch shakes. Suddenly, they see something surrounding them. Team Rocket has the whole lab caught in a tent.

Jigglypuff walks up to the tent. It can't open it and gets mad over this. Ash and co. wonders what happened. Team Rocket appears, and they recite their motto. Team Rocket wonders why Brock is back. Muk appears, and Ash thinks it wants to battle. Muk heads straight for Team Rocket. Jessie sends out Lickitung. Muk passes Lickitung and gets on top of Jessie. James sends out Victreebel. Muk starts to play with Victreebel. Victreebel uses Razor Leaf, but it has no effect on Muk. Victreebel then sticks itself onto Muk. Before Victreebel can attack, Muk's Poison Gas knocks Victreebel out. Lickitung licks Muk, but that attack doesn't effect Muk either. Victreebel uses Sleep Powder which puts Muk to sleep. Ash is about to choose his next Pokémon when Team Rocket throws out some rings. The rings tightens on Ash and co. and traps all of them. A giant hose appears. Jessie presses a button, and the hose begins to suck everything up. The Pokéballs from the lab gets sucked up too. Tracey sketches gets sucked up too. Meowth walks near Brock. Meowth wants to know why Brock left Professor Ivy. Brock won't tell him. Suddenly, the tent rips open. Jigglypuff gets sent away. Out in the distance is a boy wrapped in a cloak and a Nidoqueen. The boy takes off his cloak, revealing himself as Gary. Lickitung uses Lick, but Nidoqueen grabs Lickitung's tongue. Then Nidoqueen uses Mega Punch on Victreebel. Jessie sends Meowth into battle. Meowth tries a Scratch attack, but he breaks his nails. A Headbutt sends Team Rocket blasting off again.

Nidoqueen unties everyone from the rings. Professor Oak thanks Gary for his help. Misty and Brock notices how well Nidoqueen is trained. Ash is a bit angry by this. He tells Gary that he won the Orange League. Gary congratulates him, but he still didn't beat Team Rocket. Ash and Gary have gotten a lot stronger since the Indigo League. They decide to have a Pokémon Battle to see who is stronger. Who will win?

English Official Summary

Ash returns home, where he is pleasantly surprised by an old friend. Unfortunately he faces a new trial, as Team Rocket has besieged the famous Oak Laboratory and captured all the Poké Balls there.

Italian Official Summary

Il ritorno di Ash a casa è pieno di gioia e di sorprese e durante la visita dei nostri eroi al Laboratorio del Prof. Oak naturalmente non può mancare l'ennesimo attacco del Team Rocket. Casa dolce casa!

Portuguese Official Summary

Ash tem uma volta ao lar agitada com uma surpresa visita de um velho amigo, uma visita para ver o Professor Carvalho e um ataque da Equipe Rocket. Não existe lugar como o lar!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Ash tiene un ajetreado regreso a casa con una sorpresiva visita de un viejo amigo, una visita para ver al Profesor Oak, y un ataque del Equipo Rocket. ¡No hay lugar como el hogar!

Spanish Official Summary

Ash vuelve a casa, donde recibe una grata sorpresa de un viejo amigo.

English Great Britian Official Summary

Ash returns home, where he is pleasantly surprised by an old friend. Unfortunately he faces a new trial, as Team Rocket has besieged the famous Oak Laboratory and captured all the Poké Balls there.

Dutch Official Summary

De thuiskomst van Ash is vol gebeurtenissen met een bezoekje van een oude vriend, een bezoek aan Professor Oak, en een overval van Team Rocket. Zoals het klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens!

French Official Summary

Sacha revient chez lui, où un vieil ami lui réserve une agréable surprise.

German Official Summary

Ash kehrt nach Hause zurück, wo er von einem alten Freund auf nette Art überrascht wird.