The episode begins with a large man scanning Ash and Pikachu with a Poketch. The scanner shows several readings and information, before beeping that it is complete, and showing a large heart on the screen. The man smiles and shows the reading to a small boy that appears to be his son. and explains that the Poketch reading was a very good one, as it shows that Pikachu's happiness level is incredibly high. Ash smiles and puts his hand on his hips, explaining that Pikachu has been his best friend for a long time, since it was his first Pokemon. Brock butts in and says that he wants to try the device too, and brings out his newly acquired Pokemon, Croagunk. The poison frog Pokemon stands there calmly, not moving as the Poketch scans over it. The man looks surprised when the scan is complete, causing Brock to worry as to what the Poketch said...

Earlier that day, before the group had met the Poketch using Father and Son, Ash and co. come across a large group of Coordinators practising moves with their Pokemon for the upcoming Contest. Dawn watches them in interest, along with Piplup and Mimiroru who are in the process of being trained up for Contests themselves. Dawn calls down to her Pokemon, saying that they should go and find some things they need for the Contest. The two Pokemon agree and Ash and co. head on their way into the heart of the city. Pulling out a magazine with a familiar looking trainer on the front, Dawn looks all around her but to no avail.

Ash asks what she is looking for, and Dawn tells him that she's looking for a Poketch shop. Ash asks what a Poketch is, and Dawn turns around in shock, as she can't believe that Ash has never heard of a Poketch before. Almost as if it sensed that Ash didn't know, the large television screen above them starts to show an advertisement for a Poketch. Dawn then shows Ash a picture in er magazine of a pretty blue haired girl that Dawn describes as a Top Coordinator. Thus, she must have a Poketch too! After a short while, the group find themselves at a Poketch shop but Dawn is dismayed to find that the shop no longer as any Poketch in stock. Rejected, Dawn walks slowly and depressed through the streets, followed by a worried Ash and Brock. Brock tries to cheer her up, saying that they should go and grab something delicious to eat to lift her spirits.

This jumpstarts Dawn into action, and she flicks through her magazine, saying that she saw a dish involving Miltank cream. Just then however, they hear calls of 'Poketch' coming from a large collection of people in front of them. 2 people, and a Meowth, dressed as clowns are selling Poketchs, describing them as great for Coordinators or a perfect present. Dawn is thrilled to see the Poketch on sale, and pushes her way through the crowd and asks if she could have one. The three, who are actually Team Rocket in disguise, turn around and huddle together, thinking that this could be their chance. Dawn asks if everything is alright, and Team Rocket turn around and thrust a Poketch into her hand, telling her that it is a present. They also give one to Ash and Brock, and Ash tries to give the Poketch back but Jessie insists.

Sometime later, the group sit themselves down on a bench as Dawn inspects her Poketch happily. Suddenely, a small blue Pokemon appears that Ash's Pokedex indentifies as Shinx. Dawn wonders what is wrong with Shinx, and a small boy appears, explaining that his Pokemon senses that the Poketch they have are fake. The three look at their Poketch in confusion, but Dawn snaps at the boy, saying that her Poketch is fine. The boy isn't convinced however, and takes the device off Dawn's arm much to her annoyance. He then runs the Poketch under a nearby public tap, but the device doesn't react or explode to the water at all, proving that it is nothing but an empty plastic shell. The group is shocked, and the boy tells them to come along with him to meet his Papa.

They do so, entering a large building to do so. Inside, the boy's Papa explains that someone has been going around giving away fake Poketchs as part of some evil scheme. He also explains that this is his Poketch company, although it's not a lot at he moment. The boy asks Dawn if she is a Pokemon Coordinator. Dawn says that she is, which prompts Papa to grab a Poketch from a nearby table, explaining that this is his new model. He also explains that this device enables a trainer to sense how happy his or her Pokemon is. Ash smiles, and asks if he would perform a scan on Pikachu. The scanner shows several readings and information, before beeping that it is complete, and showing a large heart on the screen. The man smiles and shows the reading to his son, and explains that the Poketch reading was a very good one, as it shows that Pikachu's happiness level is incredibly high. Ash smiles and puts his hand on his hips, explaining that Pikachu has been his best friend for a long time, since it was his first Pokemon.

Brock butts in and says that he wants to try the device too, and brings out his newly acquired Pokemon, Croagunk. The poison frog Pokemon stands there calmly, not moving as the Poketch scans over it. Papa looks surprised, which worries Brock at first until he tells him that his Croagunk's happiness level is very high. Dawn, not wanting to be left out, calls out her Piplup to take the Happiness scan. The man does so, but the scan doesn't turn up a very positive result, saying that the two need to bond more before their bond can increase. The boy smirks, saying that she'll have to work on it if she hopes to have a chance in the Pokemon Contests. Dawn grows angry, and asks how he can know so much. The son smiles again, explaining that he goes to a Pokemon School. He then explains that he hopes to enter the Sinnoh League at some point, which prompts Ash to label him a new rival.

Later that evening, Ash and co. bid their farewells to the Father and Son, and the young boy wishes Dawn the best of luck in her upcoming Contest, which surprises Dawn. He adds that she'll need it however, and Dawn grits her teeth in anger. Sometime after that, the group arrive at the city's Pokemon Centre. Inside their room, Dawn rants and raves about the cheek of the little boy, as Ash and Brock look on bemused. Ash looks out the window and to his surprise, sees a large group of Pokemon walking side by side, looking dazed and confused. Back at the Poketch company, the boy's father is working on one of his Poketch devices.

However, to his confusion a strange sound starts to come out of it. His son identifies the sound as a Psyduck which causes even more confusion. Why would a Psyduck's sound be coming out of one of his Poketch devices? While they are talking, Shinx walks off by itself, entranced by the call of the Psyduck. Outside, Ash and co. try to stop the Pokemon, asking where they are going. he Pokemon ignore them however, and keep walking. Just then, Papa and his son appear on the scene and explain the strange sounds that they heard coming off the Poketch.

Not far off, we find Team Rocket, along with a Psyduck speaking into a speaker connected to a radio tower, emitting the strange sounds that hypnotise the Pokemon. Meowth tells the Psyduck to stop, and gives the Pokemon a basket of fruit for helping them. Just then, Ash and co. call out to the power entering a small black box under the radio tower. Team Rocket hide, and James is annoyed to find that Pikachu isn't under the Psyduck spell. The boy, called Derek by his father, runs towards the cage hoping to get Shinx back.

A large shutter hurls down over the entrance, and Dawn just manages to jump and grab Derek back from being hurt. Dawn tells Team Rocket to show themselves, and Team Rocket appear and recite their motto. Once it's over, Brock says that they must have been the ones behind the whole Poketch scam. Dawn tells them to give the Pokemon back. Team Rocket refuse, and the Meowth balloon inflates and two rocket boosters come out from the side of the cage, and Team Rocket begin their escape. Dere calls out to Shinx, but Dawn tells him not to worry, as she pulls out her Pokeball saying that she won't let them escape.

Dawn calls out Piplup, and Ash tells Pikachu to get ready. Both trainers tell their Pokemon to attack, but Meowth smiles and says he was prepared for this as he sends out two ball cages to grab Piplup and Pikachu. Dawn says she isn't beat yet however, and sends out her Mimiroru, and tells it to use Ice Beam. Her Pokemon does so, but the Ice Beam doesn't quite reach the increasingly high Rocket balloon. Team Rocket laugh, but Dawn clenches her fist and closes her eyes. Derek wonders what she is going to do, but Dawn remains silent before opening her eyes and telling Mimiroru to use Ice Beam at full power. Mimiroru does so, firing off a huge Ice Beam that not only reaches the Team Rocket balloon, but freezes them and causes the booster rockets to stop working. The balloon's failing power also causes the controls keeping Pikachu and Piplup locked up to stop working, opening te cages and sending the two Pokemon falling to the ground. Ash calls out Starly, telling it to go grab Pikachu and Piplup, but Starly only manages to get Piplup, leaving Pikachu to land hard on the earth below.

Team Rocket also fall, smashing into the ground causing the cage shutter to be destroyed freeing the captured Pokemon who all head back to their trainers. Team Rocket isn't impressed that their plan has been foiled yet again, and frustrated, call out Seviper and Masukippa to deal with Ash and co. Dawn steps forward and tells her Pokemon to attack, with Piplup using Peck and Mimiroru using Dizzy Punch. Papa tells Shinx to use Spark on Pikachu to power it back up, and Pikachu and Shinx link tails as Shinx recharges Pikachu's power. Meowth draws out his claws and Team Rocket lunge forward to attack, but are met with a huge Thunderbolt from a powered up Pikachu and end up blasting off again. Just as Team Rocket shine in the horizon, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy appear on the scene, much to the dlight of Brock. Jenny explains that she heard about the Pokemon situation, but it looks like she appeared too late. Derek thanks Dawn for rescuing his Shinx.

The next day, Dawn jumps for joy as she now owns a brand new, real, Poketch. With this, she finally feels ready for the upcoming Pokemon Contest, and as the episode ends, pledges to do her best.

Thanks to Alfonso for Writing this for us