Ash and another trainer are battling each other. Ash has Chikorita out, and the other trainer has sent out a Raticate. Chikorita uses Tackle, but Raticate counters with Hyper Fang. Chikorita gets back up, and Raticate tackles Chikorita to the ground again with Quick Attack. Ash thinks that Chikorita should return, but Chikorita ignores Ash's command. Chikorita uses Razor Leaf on Raticate. Ash compliments on Chikorita's good work, but now Ash wants to replace Chikorita with Pikachu. Chikorita doesn't like this, and it ignores Ash's orders again. It's getting late and the trainer leaves. Ash finally gets Chikorita to go back in its Pokéball.

Ash and co. head down to the Pokémon Center. When they get there, Ash gives Professor Oak a call. He shows Professor Oak the Zephyr Badge he won in Violet City. Professor Oak then reminds Ash to not forget to deliver the GS Ball to Kurt. Ash promises that he won't forget. After a greeting from Muk, Professor Oak ends the call. All of Ash's Pokémon are eating dinner together. Ash notices that Chikorita is sitting by the window, not eating anything. Ash and co. wonder why Chikorita has been so upset lately. Nurse Joy walks up to them. She is dressed up in a lab coat. Nurse Joy explains that she has a degree in Pokémon psychology, and that she can help determine the Chikorita's problem. Ash and co. introduce themselves to Nurse Joy.

Ash explains the whole situation with Chikorita. When he is finished, Nurse Joy concludes that Chikorita is jealous of Pikachu. Ash wonders why Chikorita would be jealous considering he gives Chikorita a lot of love. Nurse Joy tells Ash that Chikorita was just about to win a battle, but he wanted to substitute Chikorita for Pikachu, therefore Chikorita thinks that Ash cares more for Pikachu. Ash looks worried, but Nurse Joy has a plan. They bring Chikorita to a green house. Chikorita is let out in the house. Since Chikorita's a grass type, it will feel comfortable around plants, letting Ash to bring Chikorita back into its Pokéball. Ash asks Nurse Joy if she can really help Chikorita. Nurse Joy tells Ash that psychology has been proven to be quite effective on Pokémon. Nurse Joy thinks that it would be best for Chikorita to stay in the green house.

At night, when everyone is asleep, Pikachu wakes up. It walks over to the green house and goes inside it. Pikachu sees Chikorita's Pokéball. Chikorita lets itself out of its Pokéball. It sees that the door to the green house is open, and Chikorita runs outside. Pikachu follows Chikorita outside. It tells Chikorita to come back, but Chikorita ignores Pikachu. Chikorita then attacks Pikachu with Razor Leaf, and then it runs into the tall grass. Pikachu runs into the grass too, but it cannot find Chikorita. Chikorita sees an old warehouse nearby. Chikorita runs inside the warehouse. It finds a box and sleeps on it. Later, a shadow is casted on Chikorita. Chikorita wakes up, and right in front of it are three Pokémon: Hitmonlee, Machoke, and Hitmonchan. Up from the top of the warehouse is a Primeape. Chikorita ignores the Pokémon until Primeape throws a metal object at it. This gets Chikorita upset. Chikorita and Primeape battle each other, and at the end Chikorita wins. Hitmonlee, Machoke, and Hitmonchan don't want to get beat up like Primeape, so they surrender to Chikorita.

The next day, Ash and co. notice that Chikorita and Pikachu are missing. They view the security camera tape, and they see that Chikorita and Pikachu escaped. Nurse Joy thinks that Chikorita wants Ash's attention, so it ran away. Misty thinks that Pikachu ran away too to try and get Chikorita to come back. Ash decides to look for Chikorita and Pikachu. Ash and co. search the whole town for Chikorita and Pikachu, but they don't find anything because the town is way too big. Brock suggests they use Bulbasaur to try and find Chikorita. Because Bulbasaur is a grass type, it should be able to pick up Chikorita's scent. Ash sends out Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur picks up the scent, and it runs off with Ash and co. following it.

Team Rocket has heard that Pikachu and Chikorita are running on the loose. James signals Meowth, who is in the balloon, that the Pokémon are running free. Meowth uses its binoculars to spot out the Pokémon. It finds Pikachu. Pikachu runs up to the same warehouse. It runs inside and finds Chikorita. Pikachu tells Chikorita to come back, but Chikorita ignores Pikachu. Suddenly, Jessie and James jump out of the tall grass, and they say their motto. James throws a net to capture the Pokémon, but Primeape comes out and destroys the net. Then Hitmonlee, Machoke, and Hitmonchan come out too in order to protect Chikorita and Pikachu. Jessie and James aren't scared until they see the wild Pokémons' scary faces.

Meowth takes out a remote and presses a button. A gigantic robot made out of tires comes out. Bulbasaur leads Ash and co. to the sight where the robot is at. They see Team Rocket's balloon in the air. Ash hopes that Team Rocket hasn't found Chikorita and Pikachu. Jessie and James grab the ropes that lead to the balloon. The four fighting Pokémon try to attack the robot, but Meowth commands the robot to punch the fighting Pokémon out of the way. The robot's one attack knocks out all four Pokémon. Pikachu uses Thundershock on the robot, but the attack does nothing. Luckily for Meowth, the balloon is at a high altitude, therefore any electric attacks won't reach him. However, Jessie and James get shocked because they are at a lower altitude.

Meowth commands the robot to pick up Pikachu. Pikachu is soon trapped in the robot's hand. Chikorita uses Razor Leaf on the robot, but that attack has no effect on the robot. The robot then traps Chikorita in its other hand. Ash and co. wonder what they can do to stop the robot. Brock notices the antenna on the robot's head. They may have a chance if they can break the antenna. Ash sends out Heracross. He tells Heracross to use its horn to launch him up to the robot's head. Misty tells Ash that it's too risky, but Ash insists on doing this because Pikachu and Chikorita are his friends. Heracross launches Ash up high into the air. Ash is aimed straight for the robot's head, but the robot moves causing Ash to miss. Ash falls to the ground. He is able to get up.

Ash sees a water tower near the robot. He runs straight to the tower and climbs the ladder. Ash makes it to the top. He tries to jump on the robot's head from the tower, but Meowth moves the robot again, and Ash begins to fall. However, Chikorita uses its Vine Whip to save Ash. Chikorita brings Ash to the robot's head. Ash breaks the antenna, and the robot has no control anymore. Pikachu and Chikorita are free from the robot's grasp, and they run away to safety. Ash jumps off the robot and runs to safety too. The robot grabs the ropes to the balloon. Because the balloon is being weighed down, Meowth is forced to cut the ropes. Jessie and James, who were hanging on the ropes falls on the robot's head. The robot explodes and Team Rocket blasts off again.

Later that day, Ash thanks Nurse Joy for helping out. Pikachu and Chikorita both jump on Ash's shoulders, and Ash and co. continue their journey towards Azalea Town.

English Official Summary

A severe case of rivalry between Pikachu and Chikorita calls for therapy sessions with Nurse Joy (schooled in Pokémon psychology at the Pokémon Institute). In such delicate matters, there's no such thing as an overnight cure, though—or is there? The following day, when Team Rocket attacks, Ash will need all his Pokémon to overcome their latest challenge.

Italian Official Summary

Ash non riesce a farsi ubbidire da Chikorita e l'infermiera Joy pensa che il Pokémon sia geloso di Pikachu. Riuscirà Ash a dimostrare quanto tiene a tutta la sua squadra?

Portuguese Official Summary

Ash não consegue fazer Chikorita lhe dar ouvidos e a Enfermeira Joy acha que é porque ele está com ciúmes da amizade de Ash com Pikachu! Conseguirá Ash provar o quanto Chikorita é importante pra ele?

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

A Ash se le está dificultando hacer que Chikorita lo obedezca, y la Enfermera Joy cree que se debe a celos por la amistad de Ash con Pikachu. ¿Podrá Ash probarle a Chikorita lo mucho que significa para él?

Spanish Official Summary

Un grave caso de rivalidad entre Pikachu y Chikorita requiere sesiones de terapia con la Enfermera Joy.

English Great Britian Official Summary

A severe case of rivalry between Pikachu and Chikorita calls for therapy sessions with Nurse Joy (schooled in Pokémon psychology at the Pokémon Institute). In such delicate matters, there's no such thing as an overnight cure, though—or is there? The following day, when Team Rocket attacks, Ash will need all his Pokémon to overcome their latest challenge.

Dutch Official Summary

Het lukt Ash niet om zijn Chikorita te laten luisteren en Zuster Joy denkt dat het komt door jaloezie vanwege de vriendschap tussen Ash en Pikachu! Kan Ash bewijzen hoeveel Chikorita voor hem betekent?

French Official Summary

À la suite d'un sérieux problème de rivalité entre Pikachu et Germignon, Sacha demande l'aide de l'infirmière Joëlle pour organiser des séances de thérapie.

German Official Summary

Ein großer Streit zwischen Pikachu und Endivie führt zu einer Therapiesitzung mit Schwester Joy.