Ash and co. have finally made it to the Violet City gym. They notice how impressive the gym looks on the outside. Ash can't wait to battle the gym leader so that he can win his first Johto League badge. Before they can go inside, they are stopped by two people. These two people tell Ash that they have to take their survey before he can challenge the gym leader. These two people say that they have to inspect all Ash's Pokémon to make sure they fit Violet City gym's standards. One of them takes Pikachu, examines it, and then they run off. Ash and co. chase after the two people. Suddenly, a balloon flies out. Inside it are the two people, who are actually Team Rocket in disguise. They begin saying their motto. Pikachu is in a cage. Pikachu uses Thundershock to try and break the cage, but the attack does nothing.

Ash sends out Heracross. Ash orders Heracross to chase Team Rocket. Meowth has a secret weapon to stop Heracross. Meowth gets out a jar of honey and throws it on the ground. Heracross spots the honey and flies down to eat it. Team Rocket is happy that they are finally getting away. Suddenly, a person on a handglider approaches Team Rocket. The person sends in his Hoothoot. Hoothoot grabs the cage containing Pikachu and brings it back to its trainer. The trainer thanks Hoothoot, and he begins to land. Jessie is angry that the trainer stole Pikachu. She sends out Arbok. Arbok uses Poison Sting to blow a hole in the handglider. While still in the air, the trainer jumps off the handglider and sends out his Pokémon, Pidgeot. Pidgeot takes its trainer up to Team Rocket. Arbok tries stopping the trainer again with Poison Sting, but Pidgeot dodges the attack. Pidgeot rips a hole in the balloon, and Team Rocket blasts off into the sky.

The trainer lands on the ground and gives Pikachu back to Ash. Ash thanks the trainer for saving Pikachu. Ash notices that his Pidgeot can fly very fast, and it looks bigger than the rest of the Pidgeot. Ash remembers his Pidgeot back in Pallet Town. The trainer assumes that Ash had a very strong bond with his Pidgeot. Misty asks the trainer if flying types are his favorite. The trainer replies that they are because he loves flying in the sky. He explains that he start handgliding so that he could understand his flying Pokémon more. Then the trainer rants on about how it makes him mad when people say flying Pokémon don't stand a chance to electric types. Misty agrees with him because she has water Pokémon that are weak to electric types. Ash introduces himself and his friends to the trainer. The trainer introduces himself as Falkner, the Violet City gym leader. Ash, Misty, and Brock are surprised to see that he's the gym leader.

Ash and co. head inside the gym, and they step into an elevator that goes up to the roof. Falkner tells Ash that they have to battle hard whether they are friends or not. Ash agrees with him. When they arrive on top of the roof, they are greeted by Falkner's cheering section. One of them explains the rules of the battle. When the rules have been explained, the battle begins.

Falkner starts off by sending out Hoothoot. Ash sends out Chikorita who hugs Ash. Ash is embarrassed to see Chikorita hugging him. Falkner scolds Ash because he sent in a grass type, and grass types are weak to flying type Pokémon. Ash tells Falkner that you shouldn't always judge a Pokémon by its type. Chikorita starts off with Vine Whip. Hoothoot dodges the Vine Whip by flying into the sky. Chikorita uses Vine Whip again. Hoothoot dodges the attack again, and this time it tackles Chikorita. Then Hoothoot weakens Chikorita even more with its Peck attack. Chikorita counterattacks with Razor Leaf. Hoothoot dodges the attack again and takes a dive straight for Chikorita. Chikorita dodges Hoothoot's attack. Hoothoot dives for Chikorita again. Chikorita tries to counter with Vine Whip, but Hoothoot dodges the attack and tackles Chikorita. Chikorita is knocked out, and Falkner wins round one.

Ash's second Pokémon is Pikachu. The battle begins. Hoothoot starts off with Tackle, but Pikachu uses Agility so that Hoothoot can't tackle it. Then Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to severely weaken Hoothoot. A Quick Attack from Pikachu then knocks it out. Ash wins the second round. Falkner thanks his Hoothoot for a great battle, and then he returns it back into its Pokéball. Falkner's second Pokémon is Dodrio. Falkner explains to Ash that no one has defeated his Dodrio before. Ash isn't scared because he knows Dodrio can't fly.

Ash tells Pikachu to use Agility. Because Pikachu is using Agility, Dodrio starts off with its Agility, too. Pikachu then uses Thunderbolt, but Dodrio dodges it by taking a giant leap into the air. Dodrio then slams into Pikachu with its Fury Attack. Dodrio then jumps into the air again and hits Pikachu with Drill Peck. Finally, Dodrio charges up for Tri Attack. Pikachu jumps onto Dodrio's head to stop the attack, and then it jumps into the air. With a Thunderbolt attack, Dodrio is weakened. Dodrio tries to get up, but it can't. Therefore, Ash is the winner.

Falkner's last Pokémon is Pidgeot. Misty and Brock notice that Pikachu looks tired. Ash asks Pikachu if it wants to take a break, but Pikachu still wants to battle. Pikachu starts off with Thunderbolt attack. Unfortunately, the electric attack didn't have enough power in it because Pikachu is exhausted. Pidgeot finishes Pikachu off with its Whirlwind attack. Falkner wins the round.

Ash's final Pokémon is Charizard. Both Pokémon start off by flying into the air. Charizard then uses Flamethrower, but Pidgeot dodges the attack. Charizard tries again, and this time Pidgeot uses Agility to dodge the rapid fire attacks. Charizard tries Flamethrower again. Pidgeot uses Whirlwind to blow the fire right back at Charizard. Charizard falls to the ground. Ash asks Charizard if it's alright. Charizard is able to get up. Pidgeot dives down towards Charizard with Wing Attack. Ash realizes that fire attacks won't do any good, so he orders Charizard to fly into the air. However, Charizard's wing is injured, and Pidgeot ends up striking Charizard. Pidgeot then flies up into the air again and uses Quick Attack.

Ash wonders what he can do. Falkner tells Ash that he should forfeit the match. Ash replies by saying that he never gives up and neither will Charizard. Falkner orders Pidgeot to use one last Quick Attack. Before Pidgeot can strike Charizard again, Charizard dodges the attack by flying into the air. Pidgeot then uses Agility to get behind Charizard. It uses Quick Attack again to hit Charizard. Ash realizes that Pidgeot will just keep on using the same attack over and over. This gives him an idea. Falkner orders Pidgeot to use Agility to get behind Charizard again. Ash tells Charizard to turn around and use Fire Spin. Charizard obeys and Pidgeot is trapped in Charizard's flames. Charizard then grabs ahold of Pidgeot and uses Seismic Toss. Pidgeot faints and Ash is declared the winner.

Falkner congratulates Ash on his victory, and he gives Ash the Zephyr Badge. Falkner wishes Ash the best of luck on his journey. Then Ash and co. wave goodbye, and they continue their way on towards the next gym. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is trapped in a tree. A flock of Spearow surrounds them, and they are pecking Team Rocket.

English Official Summary

With Pikachu's help, Ash is confident that winning the Zephyr badge will be a breeze. But when the Gym Leader's high-level Pokémon turn the tables on the textbook Electric over Flying advantage, Ash will have to use more than raw power to emerge victorious.

Italian Official Summary

Ed ecco la prima lotta in Palestra della Lega di Johto, dove Ash è fiducioso di poter aggiudicarsi facilmente la sua prima Medaglia. Ma i Pokémon di tipo Volante del Capopalestra Valerio si rivelano degli avversari più duri del previsto!

Portuguese Official Summary

Finalmente chegou a hora da primeira Batalha de Ginásio da Liga Johto de Ash e ele está confiante. Mas o Pokémon tipo-voador de Falkner prova ser uma dura competição! Será que Ash vencerá sua primeira insígnia de ginásio?

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Es hora de la primera batalla de Gimnasio de la Liga Johto de Ash, y él se siente confiado. Pero el Pokémon tipo Volador de Falkner demuestra ser un duro competidor. ¿Ganará Ash y obtendrá su primera medalla de Gimnasio?

Spanish Official Summary

Con la ayuda de Pikachu, Ash confía en que ganar la Medalla Cefiro será pan comido.

English Great Britian Official Summary

With Pikachu's help, Ash is confident that winning the Zephyr badge will be a breeze. But when the Gym Leader's high-level Pokémon turn the tables on the textbook Electric over Flying advantage, Ash will have to use more than raw power to emerge victorious.

Dutch Official Summary

Het is eindelijk tijd voor het eerste Johto League Gym gevecht van Ash en hij is vol vertrouwen. Maar Falkner’s Vliegsoort Pokémon blijken lastige tegenstanders! Kan Ash winnen en zijn eerste Gym badge krijgen?

French Official Summary

Avec l'aide de Pikachu, Sacha espère remporter facilement le Badge Zéphyr.

German Official Summary

Ash ist zuversichtlich, dass der Flügelorden mit Pikachus Hilfe kinderleicht zu haben ist.