Template:Incomplete synopsis
It starts off with the narrator telling us that Ash has finally reached the Indigo Plateau and is clearly full of energy and excitement. A little too much maybe, for he scares Togepi. When they reach a main street, there is a whole crowd of people waiting. Ash thinks that they are for him, but they are really for the Torch Bearer, who is seen running down. Misty remarks that the flame is supposed to be from the legendary Pokémon, Moltres.
Officer Jenny states that only competitors can carry the flame, and Ash responds by revealing the gym badges on the inside of his shirt. Ash and his friends are soon met by Mr. Goodshow (whom Ash addresses as "Santa Claus"), who admires Ash's spirit and grants him permission to carry the flame. Ash and his friends begin running the torch, with Goodshow and Jenny following close behind. Team Rocket witnesses the entire thing from their balloon and, rather than stealing Pikachu , decide to steal the Pokémon League torch instead.
Team Rocket soon creates a hole in the ground to trap Ash's friends, Jenny, and Goodshow. This starts a game of keep-away to protect the torch. Team Rocket actually succeeds in getting hold of it, but they catch fire in the process. Ash releases his Squirtle to cool down Team Rocket, and Ash recovers the torch. This causes a game of tug-of-war between Ash and Jessie , and both sides attempt to get
the upper hand (Ash by having his Squirtle stretch out Jessie's face, and Jessie by having Meowth tickle Ash's stomach until he drops the torch. Team Rocket soon leaves Ash disheartened as they escape, but Ash's friends, Jenny, and Goodshow escape from the hole, with Goodshow revealing that he has a backup Moltres flame concealed within a lantern under his sweater; which he uses to relight the torch whenever needed. Ash and his friends are soon on their way again, with the torch runner job being rotated between Ash, Misty, and Brock.