Finally arriving in Santalune City, Ash decides to rush to the Gym to battle Alexa's sister, Viola. When they arrive at the gym, they meet Alexa who introduces them to her sister. Ash is eager and immediately challenges her. Learning she's a Bug-type trainer, Ash ends up with a bigger challenge than he had thought when her Surskit freezes the battleground, causing Pikachu to stumble. Will Ash manage to win?

Heading back towards Lumiose City, Ash & Co. arrive in a small village where a special competition takes place, the Rhyhorn Race. After learning that the competition is open to anybody, Ash decides to enter. Serena takes the opportunity, based on the training with her mother, to be Ash's coach in the race. However, when the day of the race comes, Ash soon learns that the race will be trickier than he imagined when Team Rocket appears half way through the course...