Having lost to Roark at the Oreburgh City Pokémon Gym, Ash immediately set to some special training with Pikachu, Aipom, and Turtwig. When Team Rocket set free an Aerodactyl newly revived from a fossil, Dawn stepped in with Buneary and Piplup after teaching them some new moves and saved the day. But Team Rocket was done fighting and they managed to snag Cranidos in a net. Enraged, Cranidos evolved into Rampardos and easily snapped the net, sending Team Rocket flying into oblivion once again. Now it’s time for Ash’s rematch against Roark and it won’t be easy with Rampardos on Roark’s lineup.

Standing on his side of the field as Ash walks in, Roark compliments Ash for being confident for his rematch and on the training they did to prepare. Ian announces the rules as Brock asks Dawn, who is in a cheerleading outfit, why she’s dressed the way she is. She explains that Ash helped her out a lot so she, Piplup, and Buneary are going to cheer Ash on as best they can. She proceeds to do a little cheering recitation as Roark sends in Onix. Ash sends in Pikachu and Ian commences the battle.

Ash wastes no time in ordering a Quick Attack from Pikachu. Roark smirks that it won’t do much damage and orders Slam. Ash replies that it wasn’t about damage. Pikachu dodges the Slam and runs up Onix’s back. Onix turns and uses Screech but Pikachu runs right through it this time and hits Onix in the face with Iron Tail. Roark next calls for a Double-Edge attack and Onix slides in with wicked speed. Pikachu charges straight for it, causing Brock to gasp in surprise. But Pikachu uses Dawn’s technique and twirls past Onix, much to Roark’s surprise. Pikachu turns around after passing Onix in midair and charges up another Iron Tail. But Onix whips its tail with amazing speed in a Slam attack, sending Pikachu flying into a boulder, burying Pikachu in rocks.

Roark comments that he doesn’t just fool around on his days off of battling, calling for a Stealth Rock. Ash calls for Pikachu to use Thunderbolt and Pikachu succeeds, sending the pile of boulders flying into the still-launching Stealth Rock, obliterating it. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt even manages to damage Onix. Ash calls for an Iron Tail to finish it, and Roark tells Onix to use Screech. Onix pulls off the move but Pikachu’s speed whips past it and smashes Onix unconscious for the first victory. Roark calls back Onix and sends out Geodude as his second Pokémon. Ash sees that Pikachu is severely weakened by its battle with Onix and calls it back to send in Aipom.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket stealthily slips up to the Gym’s back door as they say a “quiet” version of their motto. Meowth uses its claws to pick the lock on the door and they slip into the Gym. Back at the battlefield, Croagunk notices something amiss and wanders off without Brock even noticing. The battle continues with Ash calling for a Swift attack from Aipom. Geodude dodges and uses Rollout, to which Aipom counters with Double Team. Geodude’s attack misses and Aipom uses Focus Punch. Geodude quickly grabs Aipom’s tail and takes Aipom into the air for a Seismic Toss. Once they land, Aipom counters with a Focus Punch and knocks Geodude out, putting Ash two Pokémon up. Ash well knows what lies ahead at this point.

Roark recalls Geodude and sends in Rampardos to finish the battle up. Ash tells Aipom to stay in and commands a Swift attack. Rampardos does absolutely nothing to dodge the blow and comes out of the smoke created unfazed. Rampardos then takes out Aipom with a single Headbutt. Ash recalls Aipom and sends in Pikachu. Back in the Gym hallways, Team Rocket searches around for the battlefield and come upon Croagunk. Croagunk sits in front of them and croaks as they try to talk to it. It slowly begins walking forward and Team Rocket edges backwards to stay away from it.

While Croagunk scares Team Rocket, Ash commands a Thunderbolt from Pikachu. Rampardos dodges the attack and uses Zen Headbutt. Pikachu slides around Rampardos using the twirling move but is hit by Zen Headbutt’s shockwave. Pikachu next uses Quick Attack to gain speed and launches itself over Rampardos’ incoming Headbutt. Pikachu rolls to Rampardos’ tail and is sent flying by Rampardos. Rampardos uses Zen Headbutt again, which Pikachu blocks with another Iron Tail. Rampardos follows up with Headbutt and knocks Pikachu out, evening the score.

Ash retrieves Pikachu from the field and Brock comments that Ash only has Turtwig left. Outside the Gym, Croagunk has managed to scare Team Rocket into walking backwards all the way outside. It stops walking and Jessie walks up to it. Croagunk uses Poison Jab on her and James and Meowth carry her off. Croagunk sits there and croaks. Meanwhile, Ash sends out Turtwig to finish the battle up with Rampardos. Rampardos immediately tries a Headbutt but Turtwig charges in and launches itself over Rampardos in a rolling move. Roark commands Rampardos to flick its tail again to send Turtwig flying but Turtwig uses Bite on it and twirls Rampardos into a rock.

Next, Turtwig uses a Razor Leaf attack, but Rampardos incinerates it with Flamethrower. Rampardos gets up and Roark commands Head Smash. Turtwig fires a Razor Leaf at the incoming Head Smash but gets sent flying backwards. While Rampardos recovers from the recoil, Ash orders Turtwig to use Synthesis. Rampardos fires another Flamethrower, which Turtwig dodges and fires Razor Leaf at. Ash realizes he needs to get Turtwig closer and orders Turtwig to fire Razor Leaf and get closer at the same time.

Turtwig uses the Razor Leaf to hold back the Flamethrower as it runs in close to Rampardos. Ash tells Turtwig to use a spinning jump, to which Roark tells Rampardos to also jump and use Zen Headbutt. Turtwig spins straight under Rampardos and turns around to face it. Ash commands a Razor Leaf and Turtwig hits Rampardos square in the chest. Rampardos lands hard on the ground, unconscious and Ash is declared the winner of the battle.

From the stands, Dawn, Piplup, and Buneary cheer Ash on enthusiastically. Croagunk slowly walks back into the stands and sits down next to Brock, who turns to it and asks it if it liked the battle, not noticing that it left completely. Outside the Gym as the sun sets, Roark presents Ash with the Oreburgh City Gym Badge - the Coal Badge. Ash takes the Badge and does his signature pose with it as Brock and Dawn watch with big grins on their faces...