{{Ash}},While {{an|Misty}},on andtheir {{an|Brock}}way walk through a forest, headed forto [[Violet City]], where {{Ash}} hopesand to{{ashfr}} earnstop hisin firstthe [[Johtomiddle League]]of [[Badge]].a They soon stopforest and notice that several of the trees are missing their leaves. Brockwithout notesshowing thatany theirother appearssigns to be noof damage. Suddenly, {{AP|Pikachu}} suddenly spots a [[horde]] of mysteriousunknown Pokémon clamped onto a healthy tree trunk. Ash's [[Pokédex]] confirmsidentifies their identitythem as {{p|Heracross}}, mentioningand mentions their docile nature, great strength, and their preferred food: tree sap. Thinking he can catch some new Pokémon and save the tree at the same time, Ash goesis about to throw hisa [[Poké Ball]]. However,when a voice behind him tells him to stop. The trio turnturns around to see a man in a red uniform, who warns Ash that catching the Heracross will only cause more damage to the forest.

The man introduces himself as [[Woodruff]], a forest ranger. After the group introduce themselves, Woodruff explains that the Heracross are important to the forest's natural balance. It turns out that theyThey share a {{wp|symbiosisSymbiosis|symbiotic relationship}} with the local {{p|Butterfree}} population, who also feed on the tree sap but are too weak to break into the tree trunk to get to it. The more powerful Heracross dig into the trunk to start the sap flow, eatseat their fill, and then allow the Butterfree to come and feed. When {{an|Misty}} becomes worried about both the Heracross and Butterfree hurting the forest, Woodruff explains that the balance of nature in the forest was broken by invaders. Just then, a large herd of {{p|Pinsir}} stampede toward the tree. Woodruff identifies the Pinsir as the "invaders" as the {{t|Bug}} Pokémon leap onto the tree trunk and scare away the Butterfree. Ash yells at the Pinsir to leave the other Pokémon alone, while Misty demands that the Heracross do something about it. In unison, the Heracross fly up and attack the Pinsir, while Ash and Misty cheer them on. However, the Heracross are easily scared off by the Pinsir's massive pincers, and fly away. Woodruff tells the group that the Heracross are too peaceful to have any desire to take on the Pinsir; this worries {{an|Brock}}, who says that the forest will surely be destroyed if the Heracross don't do something to prevent it.

Ash notices a Butterfree still trapped up in the branches of the tree by the marauding Pinsir. A single Heracross pops up in front of the Pinsir to defend the Butterfree, and is quickly set uponattacked by their giant, spiked pincers. Ash, upset that Heracross is being ganged up on, jumps in to help it, and sends out {{AP|Bulbasaur}} to help it. One {{m|Vine Whip}} attack takes out all of the Pinsir, and Butterfree soon flies away; however, thebut Heracross is too tired to follow. The Pinsir regroup and start an ascent upascend the tree trunk, which Ash quickly puts to a stopthwarts by having Pikachu use {{m|Thunderbolt}}. The Heracross looks on while Ash defends it, watching as Ash's Pikachu defeats the lotPinsir with a {{m|Thunder}} attack and sends them packing.

AtOnce Ash'sthe all-clearPinsir flee, the Heracross flies down and approaches Ash's Bulbasaur and Pikachu. Ash thinks that it wants to thank his Pokémon;, but howeverinstead, Heracross begins to suck forcefully on the opening of Bulbasaur's bulb, causing Bulbasaur some degree of pain as it drains his pollen. Bulbasaur knocks Heracross off with a strong vineVine whipWhip, sending him sprawling on his back in the grass. While the group muses over whether or not Heracross was protecting the Butterfree or its food source, Woodruff is worried about the Pinsir possibly coming backreturning. He mentionsexplains that the Pinsir live in the forest on the opposite side of a river, and that something has been causing them to uncharacteristically cross the river and invade the Heracross' territory. Misty,Ash dueand toBrock heragree fearto ofhelp bugWoodruff Pokémon, would rather leavesave the problem to itself and move onforest, butin Ashspite andof BrockMisty's wantfear toof helpBug Woodruff and save the forestPokémon. Woodruff begins to lead them toward the Pinsir territory.

While Ash's Bulbasaur clears the path ahead using {{m|Razor Leaf}}, Ash notices the Heracross following them. Ash wonders if Heracross wants him to protect it, but Misty reminds him that Heracross liked Bulbasaur's nectar. Hearing this, Bulbasaur turns and confronts Heracross, slingingslings a Razor Leaf at itHeracross to try to scare it off. When Heracross looks up, confused, the group is furthernow awayfurther down the path.

Once they are out of the woods, Ash recalls Bulbasaur. The group approaches a deep gorge whichthat the river runsis running through. Woodruff callspoints attention toout a rope bridge that he uses to cross, only to find that the bridge is down. Looking into the gorge, Misty sees the Pinsir getting across by jumping along tree limbs. Ash accuses the Pinsir of having cut the bridge ropes, but when Woodruff inspects the severed ends of the rope, he points out that the cut is suspicious and that it could have only been done by a human. AngryAngered atby whatever human had destroyed the bridgethis, the group then ponders how to cross the gorge. They hear a sound, and turn to find Heracross pushing on a tree. Misty begins to fuss at it, but Brock cuts her off, realizing that the Heracross is trying to push the tree over. The group jumpjumps out of the way as the tree comes crashing down, landing neatly across the gorge. The group soonsuccessfully crosscrosses the river with it and enterenters the Pinsir forest, with the Heracross still following at a distance.

As they enter the Pinsir territory, they notice a tree with a single gigantic Pinsir up in the branches. WoodruffHowever, it pointsturns out that Pinsirit dois notone growof that large. A closer look shows that the{{TRT}}'s [[Team Rocket's mechas|Pinsir robotmechas]], haswhich ais hosesucking connected toout the tree trunk,sap with goldena sap leaking out around the connection pointhose. AtTeam this, {{TRT}}Rocket leaps out from the tree, and launchesrecites their {{motto}}., Woodruffand identifiesexplains themtheir asplan theto robot'sdrain owner,the atforest whichof theyall explainof theirits motivesap forand buildingsell it:. whileWhen hikingAsh inand the woods,others tiredberate andTeam starved,Rocket theyfor noticedupsetting athe treebalance withof sweet-smellingnature sap.for Afterselfish tastingneeds, the[[Jessie]] incrediblyand delicious[[James]] sapto send out {{TP|Jessie|Lickitung}} and {{TP|James|Victreebel}}, theyrespectively, decidedonly tofor drainboth thePokémon forestto ofbecome alldistracted ofby itsthe tree sap. andAs sella itresult, building{{MTR}} whips out a remote to the Pinsir mecha toand docommands theit drainingto jobattack forAsh and his themfriends.

Ash sends out Bulbasaur and thecommands groupit berateto Teamuse RocketRazor forLeaf, upsettingbut the balancerobot ofnegates naturethe forattack selfishwith ends,its butsteel [[Jessie]]pincers. statesBulbasaur thatthen thewraps onlyit balanceup theyin careVine aboutWhip isand theirsends checkingit accountspinning, balance.then JessieAsh sendscommands outPikachu to use {{TP|Jessiem|LickitungThunder Shock}} on it. However, whilethe [[James]]mecha callsabsorbs outthe {{TP|James|Victreebel}}electricity and quicklyshoots makesit aback dive forat the bushesgroup from its pincers, expectingpinning them down. To everyone's surprise, Heracross intervenes and begins to getpush aagainst bitethe onrobot. At Meowth's command, the headPinsir frommecha hispushes Pokémon.Heracross Whenfor nosome suchdistance. biteIn comesresponse, heHeracross looksgathers up its strength and begins pushing back, findingwhile hisMisty Pokémoncheers lickingit theon, treehaving sapchanged her opinion of it. JamesWith scoldstheir hismecha getting Pokémonbeaten, VictreebelTeam attemptsRocket tofights devourover itsthe {{pkmn|Trainer}}.controls, Jessieand alsothe findsremote herends Pokémonup moregetting interesteddestroyed in the sap;scuffle. realizingUnable thatto they'rereceive notcommands, gettingthe robot anywherecannot fight back, {{MTR}}allowing whipsAsh outand athe remoteothers toremove the Pinsirsap mechtanks. Once that is accomplished, Heracross shoves its horn under the mecha and commandslifts it toup attackonto Ashits andshoulders. With a mighty heave, Heracross {{ashfrm|Seismic Toss|tosses}} the mecha high up into the air. The lands on Team Rocket, then explodes, sending them blasting off.

AshHeracross sendsstrikes outa Bulbasaurvictory topose useas RazorAsh Leaf,and butMisty thecongratulate robot negates the attack with its steel pincersit. BulbasaurThey then wraps it up in Vine Whip and sends it spinning likenotice a top,crowd thenof AshPinsir commandsapproaching Pikachuthem tofrom usethe {{m|ThunderShock}}surrounding on it. Howeverforest, the mechasignaling absorbsthat the electricity,Pinsir andpopulation shootshas itreturned back at the group fromto its pincers. Knockedown downterritory, thethus group are unable to do anything asleaving the Pinsir robot approaches them. To everyone's surprise, Heracross decides to intervene and beginsButterfree to push against thein robotpeace. AtBack Meowth's commandon the PinsirHeracross' mechaside pushesof Heracross somethe distanceriver, butthe Heracrossgroup gatherswatches upthe its strengthHeracross and beginsButterfree pushing back, while Misty cheers itfeeding on, noa longer thinking of it as "creepy" like other bug Pokémontree. WithThe theirHeracross mechwho getting beaten,battled Team Rocket's fightsmecha overapproaches the controlsgroup, and the remote ends up getting destroyed in the scuffle. Unable to receive commands, the robot cannot fight back; after Ash and theMisty groupcommend removeHeracross' theefforts sapand tanks,congratulate Heracrossit shoveson itshelping hornto undersave the mech and lifts it up onto its shouldersforest. WithSaying agoodbye mighty heave,to Heracross {{m|Seismicand Toss|tosses}}Woodruff, thethey mecha high up into the air. The landscontinue on Teamtheir Rocket,path then explodes, sending them blastingto offViolet againCity.

HeracrossHowever, strikesupon aleaving victorythe pose asforest, Ash and Mistyhis congratulatefriends it.find Theyout thenthat noticeHeracross ais crowdstill of Pinsir approachingfollowing them. from the surrounding forest,They signalingrealize that theit Pinsir population has returnedwants to its own territory, leavingleave the Heracrossforest and Butterfree in peace. Back on the Heracross side of the river, the group watch the Heracrossbehind and Butterfreecome feedingwith on a treethem. The lone {{AP|Heracross}} approaches the groupagrees, andso Ash andtosses Mistya commend Heracross'Poké effortsBall and congratulate it onwillfully helping to save the forestenters. SayingAsh theircelebrates goodbyeshis tolatest Heracrosscatch andbefore Woodruff,the theygroup continuecontinues on their path to Violet City{{pkmn|journey}}.