Whilst walking in a forest, Emolga gets into a fight with Snivy and gets knocked away, causing the gang to go chase after her. They find Emolga, and meet Moira, a snobbish girl, with what she calls "The most elegant Pokémon in the world", referring to her Cinccino. She is also accompanied by two women, Shion and Mizuki, with the "second most elegant Pokémon, and the third most elegant Pokémon", Lilligant and Roserade, respectively.
Moira calls Iris's Emolga ditzy and pathetic, and Ash's Snivy inelegant, as well as ugly. This causes Iris to become angry, which makes Moira laugh and walk back to her tour bus. Iris climbs up the cliff Moira was on, but only to find that she is too late, Moira has just set off in her bus. The bus has a pattern with roses on it, so Ash and his friends head to Vertress City, and ask a passerby about it. This is when they find out about the Pokémon opera, and find the school.
With Iris intent on confronting Moira, the passerby tells the group that only girls are allowed inside, meaning Ash and Cilan cannot enter. As a result, Iris drags them to a costume store, where Ash and Cilan are forced to cross dress. They enter the school, claiming they want to learn from Moira. Pikachu, Axew, and Pansage are dressed up as girls.
At first, Mizuki is hesitant to let them in, until Moira appears and tells Mizuki to let them in. The engage in battles, on a field in the middle of a circle of mud. Moira states that the loser is the first one to fall in the mud, or is unable to battle. First it is Pansage VS Roserade, Cilan VS Shion. The battle results in Cilan's loss and Shion's victory. Next, it is Snivy VS Lilligant, and after many close calls with Snivy almost falling into the mud, Ash takes the win. Lastly it is Moira VS Iris, Cinccino VS Emolga, respectively.
Emolga manages to knock Cinccino into the mud, but Cinccino just shakes the mud off. Moira explains that this is due to Cinccino's oils on its body. Iris calls this a cheat, and Moira laughs. They have a re-battle with Emolga VS Roserade, Pansage VS Lilligant, and Snivy VS Cinccino. Emolga wins her battle, Pansage loses his, and Snivy, under the leadership of Iris, just for that battle, wins. Iris had commanded Snivy to use Leaf Storm many times in the battle, and letting Snivy take hits from Cinccino. At last when Snivy knocks Cinccino and Moira into the mud, Cinccino cannot use the oil to shake the mud off. This is because the many Leaf Storms that Iris had Snivy use took off the oil. Moira admits defeat, proving to be just about as much of a sore loser as Georgia. Then the administrator of the opera, Chihaya asks for Iris, Ash and Cilan to join the opera. The three take off, leaving the administrator behind. After changing back into their normal clothes, the three head off to Vertress City once again.
