Mrs. Ketchum and Professor Oak, along with a few other people are watching the Pokémon League on TV. Mrs. Ketchum sees Ash on TV and waves to him. Ash and co. walks up to a lady to register him in the league. Brock thinks the girl is pretty, but Misty pulls him away. The lady asks for Ash's identification. Ash gives her his Pokédex, and she registers him in the league. When the registration is complete, Ash asks who he is battling next. Brock tells him that he has to battle on four different battlefields before he can compete with anyone. Brock knows about this because he has studied the trainer's handbook. To find out which field Ash is battling on, he has to press a button. Ash presses a button, and he is chosen to battle on the water field. Next, the computer randomly selects Ash's opponent. His opponent is a guy named Mandy.

Team Rocket, dressed up as news reporters, walks up to a trainer. They ask the trainer if he has any rare Pokémon. The trainer tells them that he has a Dodrio, Raticate, and Venomoth. Team Rocket doesn't think they are rare, and they walk away. Then they see a person doing some magic tricks. They walk up to him. His name is Mandy. Mandy asks who the news reporters are from. Jessie and James tells him that they are from LCN or the Lovely Charming Network. Mandy tells them that he only goes on networks that actually have viewers. Then he walks away. Jessie gets mad at him, but Meowth stops her. James tells Jessie to not get angry, or else they will get kicked out.

Misty offers Ash some of her water Pokémon, but Ash doesn't want any because he has Squirtle. Misty tells Ash that he needs a variety of Pokémon to battle with. Then Gary appears. It seems that Gary is battling on the ice field first. He hopes that Ash wins, so that he can beat Ash for himself. Then an announcer pages Ash to go to the nearest phone booth. Ash does so, and he talks to Professor Oak. Professor Oak thinks that it is a good idea if Ash took another Pokémon. Krabby appears, and Ash wants to take Krabby. When Professor Oak is sending Krabby over, Mrs. Ketchum asks Ash if he is doing okay. She tells him that her and a bunch of other friends were invited over to watch the competition. Krabby is sent over. Mrs. Ketchum reminds Ash to eat well and to go to bed early.

Mandy meets up with Ash and co. Ash wants to shake his hand, but Mandy refuses to do so. He thinks that he will beat Ash. Then Mandy walks away. Ash and co. has stopped for a lunch break. Misty doesn't know if it is a good idea if Krabby battles because Krabby hasn't had any battling experience before. He's only allowed to battle with three Pokémon, and they are chosen before the battle starts. On TV, Gary has just beaten his first opponent. Gary gets interviewed about how it feels to win. Gary says that winning is very important, and the trainers he knows are losers.

The second battle on the water field has begun. Ash isn't battling in this one incase you didn't know. The battle is with Tentacruel and Seaking. Seaking beats Tentacruel with a Horn Drill. The green trainer wins. Ash is up next. Misty notices that Ash is shaking, but Ash claims that it's only the stadium. Pikachu looks ready, and so they walk out into the stadium. Ash is on the green side, while Mandy is on the red side. Team Rocket also spots Mandy. They speak into the microphone. Team Rocket is on Ash's side now. Suddenly, a bunch of Officer Jennys appear, and they kick Team Rocket out. Brock sees the outstanding Officer Jennys as they walk by. The battle begins. Mandy sends out Exeggutor and Ash sends out Krabby. Misty doesn't know why Ash is using Krabby since it never battled before. Exeggutor starts off with a Psywave, but Krabby dodges by jumping into the water. Then Exeggutor uses its psychic powers to create a whirlpool. Krabby gets trapped in the whirlpool. Exeggutor's Egg Bomb is released. Ash tries to return Krabby back, but he can't. However, Krabby manages to escape the whirlpool. It uses Vicegrip to prevent Exeggutor from using any attacks. A Leer followed by a Stomp is next. Exeggutor faints and Krabby wins. This battle makes Krabby evolve into Kingler.

Mandy sends out Seadra. Seadra starts off with Agility, dodging Kingler's Water Gun attacks. Kingler tries a Bubble attack, but Seadra continues to dodge the attacks. Suddenly, the Bubble attack does hit Seadra, sending it flying. Kingler finishes the battle off with a Crabhammer. Misty notices that Ash isn't nervous anymore because he is winning. It seems that everyone in the crowd is cheering for Ash.

Now Mandy is only one Pokémon from defeat. Mandy's final Pokémon is Golbat. Kingler starts off by diving into the water. Then it uses Vicegrip, but Golbat dodges the attack with a Double Team. Golbat uses Razor Wind which knocks Kingler backwards. Golbat uses Mega Drain, but before the attack can hit Kingler, Kingler uses Hyper Beam. The attack hits Golbat, and it faints. Ash wins his first battle. MIsty and Brock congratulates Ash for his first victory. Ash runs on the battlefield and hugs Kingler. Team Rocket is surprised that Ash actually won. Brock looks in the handbook. He says that winning trainers should have "dignity and restraint." Ash dances infront of the cameras and thinks that he will win all the battles.

English Official Summary

It's the first day of the Pokémon League, and when Ash's friends learn his first battle will be held on the Water Field, they're full of advice!

Italian Official Summary

È il primo giorno del torneo della Lega Pokémon e quando i nostri eroi scoprono che la prima sfida di Ash sarà su un campo di tipo Acqua, lo inondano di consigli!

Portuguese Official Summary

É o primeiro dia da Liga Pokémon e, quando os amigos de Ash ficam a saber que o seu primeiro combate terá lugar no Recinto de Água têm muitos conselhos para lhe dar!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Es el primer día de la Liga Pokémon, y cuando Ash y sus amigos descubren que su primera batalla será en el Campo de Agua, están llenos de consejos.

Spanish Official Summary

Ash se da cuenta de que primero tiene que pasar por cuatro combates preliminares, en cuatro magnificos campos de combate, antes de clasificarse para combatir en el Estadio Añil.

English Great Britian Official Summary

It's the first day of the Pokémon League, and when Ash's friends learn his first battle will be held on the Water Field, they're full of advice!

Dutch Official Summary

Het is de eerste dag van de Pokémon League, en als de vrienden van Ash horen dat zijn eerste gevecht plaats zal vinden op het Water Veld, hebben ze talloze adviezen!

French Official Summary

C'est le premier jour de la Ligue Pokémon, et quand Sacha et ses amis apprennent que son premier combat se tiendra sur un Terrain Eau, ils partagent avec lui de nombreux conseils.

German Official Summary

Ash staunt nicht schlecht, als er erfährt, dass er erst vier Kämpfe auf unterschiedlichen Spielfeldern gewinnen muss, bevor er im Indigo Stadion kämpfen darf.

Danish Official Summary

Det er Pokémon Ligaens første dag, og da Ashes venner hører, at hans første kamp finder sted på Vandpladsen, er de fulde af gode råd!