Ash, Misty, and Brock run into their old friend Richie and his Pikachu, Sparky. They also meet a young boy whose Lanturn has made friends with a baby Lugia.

Ash and the gang, along with Richie, captured by Team Rocket and held at their base. Dr. Number and the other Rockets look upon their capture of the parent Lugia, but they rather use that than the child so they carry that one off.