Ash and company arrive in Crossgate Town, where they immediately help a Swablu who's floundering in the air, that belongs to Shane. Apparently they were doing training for the PokéRinger, a game that involves two to four trainers using their Pokémon to capture a ring that's hanging up quite some distance in the air. The Pokémon that first brings the ring to the goal post wins. A PokéRinger tournament is scheduled later in the day. There are lots of trainers here, and not all of them local. Shane is forced to admit that this is his first tournament.
Team Rocket make their first appearance. James actually knows a lot about the sport. He had some aspirations to become a player in these games when he was a kid. Surprisingly, his old teacher is part of the tournament. James gets all fired up to compete!
Shane is in the first round. Ash is in the second round along with the defending champion Volt and his Volbeat. Then James makes a weird entrance. James appears to be in the third block along with May. May, displaying a characteristic lack of manners, totally ignores James even after his wishes her a good battle. The tournament gets underway and Shane emerges victorious.
Volbeat seems to have the early advantage in the second round by possessing Template:Type2 attacks. Taillow actually overcomes the electricity and gets the ring! Volbeat isn't beat yet though. Another Thunderbolt causes Taillow to drop the ring while trying to dodge. Volbeat takes it and goes for the goal. However, Taillow's counter-attack causes Volbeat to lose the ring! Ash wins the second round.
Now, James and May face off. Unbelievably, James actually wins! May and Beautifly concentrated too much on everyone else, thinking James would be useless. The business scheme that Jessie and Meowth have concocted seems to be raking in the cash and the Pokémon. They're bringing them in out there, from the ranks of all the losers' Pokémon.
One quick flash past segment later, and we learn that Shane, Ash and James are winning all their matches. Next, James and Shane face off! Swablu has the early advantage, but James's experience is paying off tactics-wise it seems. When the sudden sunlight blinds Swablu as the clouds move, James takes it!
The next round is Ash versus James. However, the battle is interrupted by Meowth, and he and James have somewhat of a conversation aided by flags, as though they've suddenly started using the semaphore system. Meowth gets smacked in the face by a flag, and James turns his attention back to the battle at hand.
James has the advantage and uses a Psybeam attack! But Taillow reflected it and hit back with a Wing Attack! James isn't out of it yet though, and then a sand tornado starts.Looks like after the tornado is over, it will be a matter of speed - who can take the ring first...but wait, Taillow goes and flies into it! The wind appears to knock Ash's Taillow backwards, but then we realize that it's evolving!
Swellow just can't lose against this tornado. James makes one last desperate play....and might just win...but it's another Wing Attack, knocking the ring onto the goal! Ash wins! James cries his heart out and Jessie shows up in the balloon! Looks like Team Rocket are up to their old tricks again. But they're simply no match for Swellow. The Pokémon are returned, the balloon is blown up, and they blast off.