Ash and his friends arrive at Camphrier Town only to be blasted by a terrible, loud noise. The noise soon stops, and when Clemont asks a townsperson, she tells the group to follow her. The woman leads them to a Snorlax sleeping in the middle of the town, and reveals that the noise was Snorlax snoring. The woman explains that once a year, Snorlax comes down from the mountains and uproots and eats the roots of the harvested field's crops. By digging up the roots, Snorlax cultivates the fields and makes the good crops grow. Every year, once Snorlax has dug up the roots, a festival takes place out of gratitude. There, King Shabboneau plays on his Poké Flute in gratitude and Snorlax returns to the mountains once more. This year, however, the towns people made all the preparations needed for the festival, but because Snorlax was not given the cue to return to the mountains he remains immobile in the town. The reason for this is that King Shabboneau, who plays the Poké Flute, has not come.
As the loud snores continue, Clemont decides to fix the situation with another invention, an forceful alarm clock usually used for waking up Bonnie, but instead of waking up Snorlax, the machine explodes. As the towns people worry about their town, Ash is more concerned with Snorlax, not wanting it to be made the bad guy. The woman tells them that several towns people have already went to Shabboneau Castle to ask the king to play, but were unsuccessful. Ash decides that he will go. At the castle, Ash and his friends are led to King Shabboneau. When they give their request, but the king only offers excuses as to why he cannot. At the recommendation of his butler, however, the king truthfully tells the group that the flute was taken from him by Princess Allie of Parfum Palace. Ash resolves to get the flute for the king, while Team Rocket listens from inside a suit of armor and plans to use the Poké Flute to get not only Pikachu but an army of Snorlax.
Later, Ash and his friends are momentarily stunned by the beauty of Parfum Palace, but are interrupted by an incoming Furfrou. Preceded by maids, Princess Allie comes to the scene and not only blatantly refuses to return the flute, but also attempts to take Pikachu as a "family heirloom." When Ash refuses, she tempts him with jewels in exchange, but to no avail. In response, Princess Allie suggests that Pikachu and her Furfrou battle for the ownership of both the Poké Flute and Pikachu, and Ash reluctantly agrees.
Ash and Pikachu begin with Quick Attack, but Furfrou hits Pikachu instead. As Furfrou runs to attack Pikachu from behind, Ash tells him to use Iron Tail, but Furfrou counters with Bite. Princess Allie aims to end the battle with Charge Beam, but Pikachu repels it with Electro Ball and sends out a final Thunderbolt, which messes Furfrou's grooming. Princess Allie has Furfrou taken off the field to be newly groomed, leaving Ash confused as to the outcome of the battle. Princess Allie forfeits, not wanting her Furfrou to battle while not looking beautiful, and Clemont declares Ash the winner. However, when Ash asks about the flute, Princess Allie refuses to give it to him because of her loss, and reminds him that she didn't specify a win or a loss. Meanwhile, Bonnie and Serena nod to each other and run onto the battlefield, followed by Clemont, who promptly tells Princess Allie off, telling her her selfishness won't work in the real world. Princess Allie is attracted to Clemont's earnestness and even agrees to give back the Pokéflute, but on one condition: to leave Clemont with her. Serena and Bonnie whisper to each other before Bonnie tells the princess to go ahead, much to Clemont's alarm. Ash and his friends receive the Poké Flute, and Bonnie and Serena reassure Clemont that they will rescue him after Snorlax awakes, and they leave Clemont, who calls after them desperately.
Ash and his friends run into town, brandishing the flute, where the town is ready for the festival. But before King Shabboneau can start playing, the flute is snatched out of his hand by Team Rocket. Despite the king's warnings that only he can play it, Jessie begins to play a screeching tune, which wakes up Snorlax, who has become angry from the awful music, but Team Rocket, who haven't noticed, play on, expecting Snorlax to fall under their command. Snorlax sends them blasting off again, and Ash catches the Poké Flute and hands it to King Shabboneau, who then plays the pleasent tune Snorlax is used to. Snorlax eats their offerings, and the towns people rejoice. At the end of the day, Snorlax returns happily to the mountains. All's well that ends well, but suddenly, Bonnie remembers Clemont, who runs into the town in only his underwear. He explains how he planted a robot to look like himself and fooled Princess Allie. The four watch the fireworks overhead, and their journey continues.