Ash and co. continue their way towards Azalea Town. They are walking through a forest. Misty hears a noise deep in the forest, and she wonder what it was. Ash thinks that it was just a Hoothoot, but Brock doesn't think it's a Hoothoot. Suddenly, a mysterious figure jumps from one tree to another. Brock notices that it was a Gligar. Ash looks up Gligar in his Pokédex. Dexter says that Gligar isn't fond of humans. Ash thinks that Gligar will like him, so he calls out for Gligar.

Ash and co. then fall into a hole. Team Rocket comes out, and they say their motto. They put bars over the hole, so that Ash and co. can't escape. Then Meowth brings a pump out. Jessie and James pulls on the pump's lever, and water shoots out from the hose. The water is shot out at Ash and co., and water begins filling the hole. Ash tells Pikachu to use Thundershock. Luckily, Misty and Brock stop the attack. They tell Ash that water conducts electricity, and they will get shocked, too. Jessie and James pump harder, and more water is splashed on Ash and co. Togepi falls out of Misty's hands, and it lands in the pool of water.

Suddenly, Gligar jumps into the hole. It rescues Togepi from the water and jumps onto a tree. A person in a Gligar costume comes out and orders Team Rocket to release Ash and co. He introduces himself as Gligarman, a protector of the city. Team Rocket has never heard of Gligarman before, and Ash thinks that Gligarman is wacko. Gligarman explains that he's a superhero. Meowth says that superheroes don't exist. Misty thinks that Gligarman is a superhero, however because he saved Togepi. Gligarman is glad that someone has faith in him. He asks for Misty's name, and Misty introduces herself to Gligarman. Then Gligarman tells Gligar to attack Team Rocket. Gligar jumps onto Jessie's face, and Jessie screams in horror. James and Meowth try to help Jessie, but her constant moving prevents them from doing so. James orders Jessie to hold still. Jessie obeys James' command. Before James can grab Gligar, Gligar shows its poison tail. Meowth uses Fury Swipes. Gligar dodges the attack, and Meowth ends up hitting Jessie. This gets Jessie real mad, and she beats Meowth up. Gligar swoops down on them again, scaring Team Rocket off.

Ash and co. climb out of the hole. Misty thanks Gligarman for rescuing them from Team Rocket. Gligarman takes Togepi and jumps from the tree. His landing isn't too smooth, but he gives Togepi back to Misty. Then Gligarman hops on his motorcycle. He throws them a whistle, and Brock catches it. Gligarman explains that they should use that whistle if they are ever in trouble again. Gligar jumps on the motorcycle, and they take off.

A woman on a bike rides up to them. She asks them if they have seen Gligarman. Misty tells her that they saw Gligarman a few moments ago, and Gligarman saved Togepi from drowning. The woman is relieved that Gligarman hasn't caused any trouble. Brock walks up to the woman and holds her hand. He asks for the woman's name, and she introduces herself as Latoya. Then Misty pulls Brock away. Ash notices that Latoya knows a lot about Gligarman. He asks her if Gligarman is a real superhero. Latoya doesn't know, but she says that Gligarman sometimes thinks he's a real superhero. Then Ash asks her if she knows Gligarman's real identity. Latoya doesn't answer his question, and she rides away on her bike.

When Ash and co. walk into town, they face a store that is selling a bunch of Gligarman merchandise. One of the shop workers pushes Ash and co. inside the store so that they can start shopping. At the cashier's desk is Latoya. Brock is happy to see her again. Ash tells Latoya that he still wants to know a lot more about Gligarman. A man, who is the store owner, walks out and tells Ash that he knows everything about Gligarman. He decides to play a slideshow about Gligarman. The slideshow gives them an introduction about Gligarman.

The slideshow ends. Ash notices that the Gligarman in the movie looked different from the Gligarman he saw earlier today. Misty thinks that the store owner is Gligarman. Ash puts a Gligarman mask on the man, and they find out that he really is Gligarman. The man tells Ash and co. to keep Gligarman's true identity a secret.

Team Rocket is in an alley with their binoculars. They peer through the store window, and they find out Gligarman's true identity, too. Jessie has a plan on how they can reveal Gligarman's identity. The man and Latoya lead Ash and co. to their house. The man is about to show Ash and co. Gligarman's secrets. Ash and co. promise not to tell anyone about the secrets. In the elevator, Latoya tells them that her father invented Gligarman at first because their store wasn't making enough business. Soon Gligarman became so popular that her father somehow became Gligarman. Latoya wished her father would stop "being" Gligarman, but her father refuses to do that.

Ash and co. are amazed at the man's laboratory. They see a bunch of cool and unique things in it. Gligar jumps down onto the man's shoulder. Ash thinks that the man has the best job in the world because of all the great things he can do. The man offers Ash to take over Gligarman when he retires, so that the tradition can be carried on. Ash thinks about it for a moment, but he declines because his goal is to be a Pokémon Master. The man is sad because he doesn't have any family that is willing to take over as Gligarman. Brock offers to take over as Gligarman, but Latoya doesn't think Brock is being serious. Ash, however, does want to learn more about Gligar. The man tells Ash that Gligar is a really cool Pokémon, and it likes to fight a lot for the good of mankind.

Suddenly, the Gligar whistle is blown. The man finds out that his store is being attacked. He dresses up in his Gligar costume, and him, Gligar, and Ash run down to the store. Ash recognizes the criminals as Team Rocket. James, in his Metapod costume, runs towards Gligarman and Ash. Gligar then swoops down and lands on James first. Meowth then brings out a Spinarak robot. The robot shoots out some sticky web, which traps Gligarman and Ash together in a cocoon. The robot walks outside, dragging Gligarman and Ash with it. Gligarman and Ash are then thrown over a lamp post. Jessie's plan is to reveal Gligarman's true identity. The three store workers refer to Gligarman as "Mr. Parker," and that they have faith in him. Gligarman is surprised that his workers know who he is.

Suddenly, another superhero shouts out to Team Rocket. Not too far away is a superhero named Gligirl, or Latoya in disguise. Latoya tells Gligar that she needs it. Gligar recognizes Latoya immediately. Gligirl orders Gligar to free Gligarman and Ash from the cocoon. Gligar cuts the cocoon and Gligarman and Ash are free. Ash sends in Pikachu to stop Team Rocket. Jessie, James, and Meowth who is in the robot tries to stop Pikachu. Pikachu gets the robot's legs tangled up. James is almost about to catch Pikachu when Gligar hits James with its Poison Sting attack. The robot tries to shoot a web at Gligar, but Gligar counters with Swift. Then Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on the robot. The robot loses control, and it chases Jessie and James. Soon the robot explodes, and Team Rocket blasts off again.

Ash and Gligirl cheer at their victory. Later that day, Ash and co. wonder why Latoya decided to be Gligirl. Latoya doesn't know herself, but she explains that when she saw her father in trouble, she immediately dressed up in a costume. Now that Latoya is Gligirl, her father can finally retire. Latoya's father doesn't want to retire. Ash suggests that they do a father-daughter thing. Latoya thinks it's a good idea as long as she gets to keep Gligar. Then Latoya and her father argue over gets to use Gligar. Then Ash and co. wave goodbye, and they continue their journey towards Azalea Town.

English Official Summary

The legendary Gligarman grows old and begins to bend under the weighty task of fighting crime. When Ash and friends wander into town, they bring with them a challenge that threatens to be Gligarman's last—Team Rocket.

Italian Official Summary

Il supereroe Gligarman sta avanzando negli anni e sta pensando di andare in pensione. Ash e amici giungono in città, portando con sé una sfida che potrebbe rivelarsi l’ultima.. il Team Rocket!

Portuguese Official Summary

O super-herói lendário Gligarman envelhece e considera pendurar sua capa. Quando Ash e seus amigos chegam na cidade, eles trazem consigo um desafio que pode ser sua batalha final: a Equipe Rocket!

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

El legendario superhéroe Gligarman envejece y considera colgar su capa. Cuando Ash y sus amigos vagan por el pueblo, traen consigo un reto que podría ser su batalla final: ¡el Equipo Rocket!

Spanish Official Summary

Cuando Ash y sus amigos entran en la ciudad, traen con ellos un reto que amenaza con ser el último de Gligarman: el Team Rocket.

English Great Britian Official Summary

The legendary Gligarman grows old and begins to bend under the weighty task of fighting crime. When Ash and friends wander into town, they bring with them a challenge that threatens to be Gligarman's last—Team Rocket.

Dutch Official Summary

De legendarische superheld Gligarman wordt oud en denkt erover zijn cape op te hangen. Als Ash en zijn vrienden de stad in komen, brengen ze een uitdaging mee die zijn laatste gevecht kan betekenen: Team Rocket!

French Official Summary

Alors que Sacha et ses amis déambulent en ville, ils sont suivis de près par un danger qui les menace tout autant que Super-Scorplane : la Team Rocket.

German Official Summary

Als Ash und seine Freunde die Stadt betreten, bringen sie etwas mit, dass das Ende von Skorglamann bedeuten könnte: Team Rocket.