Uncrushing Defeat!

The episode begins at Lake Acuity, where Uxie's silhouette appears, then vanishes. The next morning, all of Ash's Pokémon are seen hospitalized under the care of Nurse Joy and her Blissey.

Pikachu: [weakly] Pi, Pika...

Narrator: [voice-over] In the wake of a full Pokémon battle against Paul, Ash and his struggling Pokémon are staying at the Pokémon Center on Lake Acuity to rest, heal and recharge.

Nurse Joy: [looking up in a book] The Pokémon you saw at Lake Acuity... [points at a picture of Uxie] Was it this one?

Brock: Hmm... That's it! But now that I think about it, the thing I saw was more like a shadow than the actual Pokémon itself.

Nurse Joy: It sounds to me like it was the spirit of Uxie that you saw.

A flashback of Dawn and Piplup seeing Mesprit's silhouette at Lake Verity.

Dawn: [voice-over] Just like the time I saw Mesprit at Lake Verity.

A flashback of Ash and Pikachu noticing Azelf's spirit during the Wallace Cup at Lake Valor is shown.

Ash: [voice-over] And just like when I saw Azelf at Lake Valor.

The flashback ends.

Nurse Joy: Now, according to this book, it says that all three Pokémon have come from the same egg. It also says that Uxie, who is referred to as "The Being of Knowledge", comes the wisdom to solve problems. From Mesprit, "The Being of Emotion", comes the joys and pains of life, and from Azelf, "The Being of Willpower", comes the resolve to accomplish whatever task may be at hand. And it's the power of these three that keeps the world in balance. At least that's what this book is saying.

Brock: To think they're Legendary Pokémon, and the three of us saw them!

Ash: We saw 'em all right!

Pikachu: Pika, Pika.

Piplup: Piplup.

Brock: Could it have been an accident? Or do all of these happenings mean something?

Nurse Joy: It's mysterious, that's for sure.

Brock: Hmm...

Ash: [laughs] I do not know why, but this starting to get kinda fun! Right, Pikachu?

Pikachu: Pika.

Piplup: Piplup, Piplup.

Nurse Joy: I'm worried Ash is trying to do too much.

Ash: What do you mean too much?

Pikachu: Pikachu?

Dawn: It's nothing. But there's something I wanna show you, though.

Piplup: Piplup.

Dawn: That was amazing!

Brock: Monferno's become a real powerhouse since it evolved.

Pikachu: [falls out of the net] Pika... [happily] Pika, Pi! [runs to his cheering friends]

As for Team Rocket, they and their Pokémon are lying on the ground.

James: Even my gloves hurt.

Jessie: Whoever said that the twerp was bummed from losing his battle and would be an easy mark is an absolute buffoon. Lemme at that idiot.

Meowth: You're that idiot.

Jessie: What?

James: Something about going after the "weakest of the twerp herd".

Meowth: Yeah, and also something profound about plucking Pikachu while the iron is hot.

James, Meowth and the Rocket's Pokémon stare at Jessie with oversized heads.

James and Meowth: [eerily] That would be our loser, Jessie.

Jessie: [gulps, then angrily starts shouting] Don't you make this my fault! You bunch of babies are in denial! And since you didn't stop me, it's your fault!

James, Meowth and their Pokémon all start screaming at Jessie.

Jessie: I can't hear you!

Suddenly, much to Team Rocket's astonishment, Ash and his Pokémon are staring cunningly at them. In addition, all seven are partly shrouded with a light of their color.

Gliscor: Gliscor!

Buizel: Bui!

Monferno: Monferno!

Grotle: Grotle!

Staraptor: Staraptor!

Pikachu: Pika!

Ash: Hmm...