JNS01

The episode begins with a display of the Pokémon world and the numerous Pokémon that inhabit its skies, seas, and lands. Above them all resides Arceus, the Mythical Pokémon that created all there is in this world, now watching over both the Pokémon and humans that inhabit its creation.

Ash and Goh have arrived in Canalave City to research Sinnoh's past at the Sinnoh Festival. While walking through a reconstruction of an ancient town street, they're greeted by Dawn, whose presence comes off as a pleasant surprise for Ash and Goh. They notice the clothes Dawn is wearing, and she takes them to rent themselves their own outfits. She leads them to a tent, where they find Cynthia, who is contributing to the Sinnoh Festival a lot with her knowledge of the region's history. Cynthia rents Ash and Goh their own ancient-style outfits and leads them to the museum exhibit.

Meanwhile, Team Galactic Commander Saturn and a group of Team Galactic Grunts have cornered a Heatran in a volcanic cave. While Heatran easily defeats the Grunts' Golbat with Stone Edge, Saturn's Toxicroak's Dig deals heavy damage on the Fire/Steel type and defeats it. Saturn takes the opportunity and flings a Dusk Ball at the Legendary Pokémon, catching it. He reports the successful capture mission to the Team Galactic HQ, where Mars and Jupiter are busy observing the Plate they have acquired.

Back in Canalave City, Cynthia shows Ash and his friends the museum exhibit about ancient Sinnoh and the Pokémon that inhabited it, such as Basculegion, Wyrdeer, and the regional forms of Growlithe and Braviary. Ash asks how Pokémon were caught back in the day, and Cynthia presents each of them with a wooden Poké Ball, recreated using ancient schematics. She then leads them to the "Pokémon Catching Experience Corner", a dome teeming with Pokémon, not dissimilar to Cerise Park. Cynthia calls three Pokémon in particular, Oshawott, Cyndaquil, and Rowlet, to come before them. Goh is puzzled, since all three are Pokémon from regions outside Sinnoh, but Cynthia explains that historical records show these Pokémon being brought to Sinnoh during ancient times, and she's studying them to see how they could've affected Sinnoh's ecosystem.

Cynthia declares a contest: if the group can catch the first partner Pokémon within three minutes with the assistance of their own Pokémon, she'll give each of them a prize. The first partner Pokémon hide, and the group sets out to find and catch them. Dawn is the first to find one, with Piplup accidentally running into Oshawott while clearing away tall grass with Drill Peck. Oshawott deflects Dawn's initial Poké Ball throw, causing the ball to hit Rowlet and reveal its location to Ash. Goh, meanwhile, manages to locate Cyndaquil, although it ends up tackling him and then using Flamethrower on his face. With some help from their partner Pokémon, Ash and his friends manage to catch the three first partner Pokémon. They're surprised at the ancient Poké Balls letting out a puff of steam when the capture is successful, but celebrate their success regardless before letting the first partner Pokémon back out and thanking them for the experience. Since they succeeded in catching the three Pokémon within three minutes, Cynthia gives each of them a copy of her book about the history of Sinnoh's space-time, although only Goh is truly excited to receive it.

Meanwhile, Saturn returns to the Team Galactic HQ with Heatran. Now that Team Galactic has both it and the Arceus-infused Flame Plate in their possession, they're ready to begin their experiment. While the Plate is being hypervibrated, Saturn calls out Heatran and has it use Magma Storm on the artifact, creating massive amounts of energy. As the energy level reaches critical point, an energy pulse is released from the Plate, which is sensed by Pokémon across Sinnoh. In Canalave City, Ash, Dawn, and Goh's partners feel the pulse as well and alert their Trainers that something is wrong in the direction of Mount Coronet, so they decide to investigate. In its own dimension, Arceus is also affected the disturbance, calling forth and dispatching the lake guardians to seek help.

With the first phase of their experiment successfully completed, Team Galactic has verified that the energy that was just released affects the fabric of space-time. Now they are ready to use that energy to open a gate that will bring back their leader, Cyrus.

• Ash and Goh travel to Sinnoh again and reunite with Dawn and Cynthia.
• Team Galactic returns, planning to bring back Cyrus.
• Saturn catches a Heatran.
• Ash, Dawn, and Goh learn about Sinnoh's past.
• Ash, Dawn, and Goh temporarily catch a Rowlet, an Oshawott, and a Cyndaquil, respectively.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon Journeys: The Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Growlithe (Hisuian Form)
• Braviary (Hisuian Form)
• Wyrdeer
• Basculegion (male)

Humans

• Ash
• Dawn
• Goh
• Cynthia
• Saturn
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Team Galactic Grunts
• Magikarp salesman
• Trainers

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Piplup (Dawn's)
• Rowlet (Ash's; new; released)
• Oshawott (Dawn's; new; released)
• Grookey (Goh's)
• Cyndaquil (Goh's; new; released)
• Toxicroak (Saturn's)
• Heatran (Saturn's; new)
• Magikarp (Magikarp salesman's)
• Golbat (Team Galactic Grunts'; ×3)
• Bronzor (Team Galactic Grunts'; ×3)
• Uxie (anime)
• Mesprit (anime)
• Azelf (anime)
• Arceus
• Bibarel
• Gyarados
• Magikarp
• Buizel
• Octillery
• Mantyke
• Goldeen
• Quagsire
• Tentacruel
• Slowpoke
• Floatzel
• Graveler (multiple)
• Mamoswine (multiple)
• Garchomp (multiple)
• Hippowdon (multiple)
• Steelix (multiple)
• Bastiodon (multiple)
• Torterra (multiple)
• Probopass (multiple)
• Camerupt (multiple)
• Rhyperior (multiple)
• Staravia (multiple)
• Dustox (multiple)
• Starly (multiple)
• Gliscor (multiple)
• Starly (multiple)
• Togekiss (multiple)
• Pelipper (multiple)
• Drifblim (multiple)
• Yanmega (multiple)
• Tropius (multiple)
• Honchkrow (multiple)
• Vespiquen (multiple)
• Masquerain (multiple)
• Staraptor
• Fearow
• Growlithe (Hisuian Form; debut; fantasy)
• Braviary (Hisuian Form; debut; fantasy)
• Wyrdeer (fantasy)
• Basculegion (male; fantasy)

• This special was released between JN093 and JN094 in Japan.
• This episode marks the first appearance of a number of Pokémon species in the animated series after long absences:
  • Bastiodon and Bronzor, both of whom last appeared in Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
    • This also marks the first time a Bastiodon other than Byron's has appeared in the animated series.
  • Gliscor, who last appeared in The Dream Continues!
  • Vespiquen, who last appeared in A Shockingly Cheeky Friendship!
  • Heatran, who last appeared in Heated Battle.
  • Staraptor, who last appeared in A Relay in the Sky!
  • Honchkrow, who last appeared in Master Class Choices!
  • Uxie and Hippowdon, both of whom last appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
  • Staravia, who last appeared in Till We Compete Again!
• This episode marks the first appearance of the Magikarp salesman in Pokémon the Series since The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!, which aired almost 10 years prior.
• This episode marks the first physical appearance of Team Galactic in the series since The Battle Finale of Legend!.
  • This also marks the first time a villainous team other than Team Rocket has appeared outside of its debut series.
• Including temporary catches, this is the first time Ash has caught a Pokémon species that he already owns, excluding his 30 Tauros, all in which were caught in a single episode.
  • This episode also marks the only time Ash has caught a first partner Pokémon outside of its native region and debut generation.
  • This episode also marks the last time Ash is seen catching a Pokémon in Pokémon the Series.
• Piplup butting heads with Oshawott is a possible reference to the rivalry he had with Ash's Oshawott during Pokémon the Series: Black & White.

Errors

Dub edits

• The Japanese texts depicting the names of Canalave City and the Team Galactic Commanders are edited out.