Plot
The gang is seen on a ship to Pacifidlog Town. Ash has all the Hoenn badges and needs to train well for it. May reminds him she also has 4 ribbons, so she needs to go get the final ribbon. Ash reports to Prof. Oak via the computer in a Pokemon Center, who is suprised and delightned about Ash's eight badges. Ash promises to work hard before the Hoenn Leauge. Ash goes away to train, as he tells to Brock he has *only* 3 months. May decides to follow in his footsteps to train for the Contest, so she begins by cleaning up the Poke Balls. A Pokemon watches her from the bush.
May has cleaned the Poke Balls up and goes to put them in her bag, but sees Beautifly and Bulbasaur are missing. Brock and Max suspect Team Rocket are behind this - and Team Rocket react by looking at an upset May. Team Rocket are somewhat angered, but sad when they did not catch anything yet. Brock spots some footprints, so they go to find the thief. Ash found a good spot to train, but notices something approaching. It sends him and Pikachu flying away - it is a very fast Linoone.
May stomps on Ash, as she did not see him. Ash tells them a Linoone ran over with big cheecks, so May knows Linoone must be the thief. Brock reembers that Linoone usually run straight over, so they go. They reach a house where Linoone's steps end. Inside, a boy throws an old Poke Ball. The gang asks him if he saw a Linoone near, so the boy starts apologising, as Tokin, his Linoone, stole (again) the Poke Balls. The boy's parents come, greeting the gang. The family introduces themselves - Kimmy, Harmony and Calvin. The gang introduces themselves as well. Kimmy takes them to a place - a place with many round objects Linoone has gathered.
Kimmy tells them he threw Token (when it was a Zigzagoon) the Poke Ball to catch it. However, when it evolved into Linoone, it started to take round objects, even from other people. Ash remembers his Charizard - he told him that he was meaning well just as he did. Charizard showed more respect to Ash after that event. May searched in the stash and did not found her Poke Balls. Kimmy tells her sometimes Token places stuff in the mountains. However, they are very frustrated to hear that Token could've hidden the Poke Balls anywhere in the trees. The search starts - everyone does not find anything, but Harmony found her ring, so they are very happy. Pikachu found something - May is terrified to have a bone in her hands. Max tells Ash that if Marowak or Cubone have the item, they are more powerful. Also, they find a Sooth Bell - the Pokemon will have more attack. Also, a Dragon Fang is seen - good for a Dragon type Pokemon.
Brock tells May that they'll find her Pokemon and says that Linoone has the Pickup ability - an ability to get more rare stuff. Team Rocket are thrilled to hear this and think that Linoone will get presents to the boss. The gang searches more and Kimmy spots Token on a cliff and tells it to get the Balls back. Token refuses to and is captured by Team Rocket. Kimmy goes to get Token, so Jessie sends Seviper who uses Haze. Kimmy does not see a rock and falls, so Token drops May's Poke Balls. Kimmy is injured and May takes the Poke Balls back. Pikachu goes to help Token, so James sends Cacnea. Pikachu cuts the net using Iron Tail. Seviper uses Poison Tail, but Pikachu dodges and hops to its head. Linoone is seen to be with Kimmy, who is okay. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, blasting them off. However, the smoke clears and Team Rocket are not blasted off.
They capture Pikachu using the net, so Ash goes after him, but they are too far away. Kimmy apologises to Ash for going to save Token and Pikachu got captured. Ash tells him not to worry. Linoone spots Team Rocket's baloon shaped like a Poke Ball. Kimmy recalls that he did throw the Poke Ball for Token to fetch to play, so Brock concludes it wants round objects to play with. Kimmy tells Linoone to go after the baloon, so it jumps, landing on the baloon itself. Meowth tells Jessie and James it could pop the baloon, so Cancea uses Needle Arm on Linoone. Of course, Linoone evaded and Cacnea popped the baloon. Before they go to the ground, Linoone cut the net and Pikachu and it came to the ground. Kimmy promises to play with Linoone again.
Team Rocket are not yet satisifed, so Seviper goes to attack with Poison Tail. Cacnea uses Needle Arm, so Token uses Water Pulse, knocking Seviper and Cacnea out. Seviper and Cacnea clash (due to their confusion), so they begin to attack Jessie, James and Meowth - Cacnea uses Pin Missile and Seviper Haze. Pikachu and Linoone use Thunderbolt, blasting them off. Kimmy promises to play with Linoone more, so it may not steal from other people. Kimmy throws his old Poke Ball, so Linoone gets it.
Trivia
- Featured Pokemon: Mareep, Flaffy, Ampharos