Ash and friends arrive in a town where they find out that one of the last contests before the Grand Festival is going to be held. Since Dawn already has her fifth ribbon, however, she decides not to participate. As they're moving on, a woman comes up to them and asks them to follow, bringing them to a princess by the name of Salvia. Surprisingly, Salvia looks as if she could be Dawn's identical twin, and because of this, the former asks Dawn if she could take her place as princess for one day so that she could participate in the Pokémon Contest. How will Dawn react to this extraordinary request?

Ash and friends finally arrive at Valor Lakefront, site of the Grand Festival. Trouble ensues, however, when they encounter a girl named Makina, dressed up as Flint of the Elite Four, and owner of two Ditto; one of alternate coloration. Despite the fact that she's only been a trainer for a month, Makina mocks Ash for being a "newbie," and loudly proclaims that regular trainers and Gym Leaders alike would run in fear from her two Ditto (which is her reason for not having any gym badges). When battling Ash, however, Makina's tough facade starts to break, and she shows that she's not exactly as "all-powerful" and as she claims.