Mothim has sensed something, and Ash and co. are chasing after it. Mothim comes to a tree with honey on it. It begins eating the honey. Sherol thinks that they have come across the enchanted honey. Dawn notices something familiar. It's the same tree that Sherol placed the honey on. Ash and co. sighs. Brock notices that it is getting dark. He tells everyone that they should get some sleep and search the next day.

The next day, Sherol notices that her Mothim is really hyper. It obviously senses something. Mothim begins to fly deeper into the forest, and Ash and co. follow it. Suddenly, Sherol gets cut up in a few vines. The vines begin to pull Sherol up into the air. Ash and co. turn around and see Sherol in the vines. Ash sends out Turtwig, who uses Razor Leaf to cut the vines. Sherol begins to fall to the ground. Brock catches her, breaking her fall. Ash and co. hear Mothim's cry. They run towards Mothim. Sherol asks Mothim if it has found the honey. Mothim heads into the bushes, and a Gloom pops out. Another girl walks out and states that it's a Gloom. Gloom has the special power to give off a stunning aroma. Gloom lets out its smell and gets away. The girl wanted to capture the Gloom, but unfortunately it got away. Then the girl notices Ash's Turtwig and says it's really cute. Ash introduces himself to the girl. He states that him and Turtwig are getting ready for his gym battle in Eterna City. The girl introduces herself as Gardenia, and she loves grass type Pokémon. Because the gym leader uses Grass type Pokémon, Gardenia challenges Ash to a battle. Ash of course accepts Gardenia's challenge.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket is dragging their feet through the forest. It's hopeless for them to find the enchanted honey, so their only option is to stay close to Ash and co. Jessie accidentally trips over a Kakuna. The Kakuna evolve into Beedrill, and they chase Team Rocket away. Meanwhile, the battle between Ash and Gardenia is about to begin. Ash is using Turtwig for the battle. Gardenia sends out Cherubi, and the battle begins. Dawn looks up Cherubi in her Pokédex. Turtwig first hits Cherubi with a Tackle attack. Then it uses Razor Leaf on Cherubi. Gardenia notices that Ash's Turtwig is very fast. She calls Cherubi back. Gardenia compliments on Ash's Turtwig's power.

Gardenia's second Pokémon is Turtwig. Ash thinks his Turtwig is a lot faster than Gardenia's. He orders Turtwig to use Tackle. Turtwig charges towards Gardenia's Turtwig, but Gardenia's Turtwig dodges the Tackle with blazing speed. Brock and Sherol notice that Gardenia's Turtwig is super fast, and Ash may be in trouble. Ash's Turtwig uses Tackle again. Again, Gardenia's Turtwig dodges, and Ash's Turtwig ends up running into a tree. Then Gardenia's Turtwig uses Leech Seed on Ash's Turtwig. Ash's Turtwig's power is being sucked out. Gardenia's Turtwig finally uses Tackle. Ash's Turtwig is knocked into a tree, and it faints.

Ash has one Pokémon left. He sends out Staravia knowing that flying types have the advantage. Staravia starts off with a Wing Attack. However, Turtwig is so fast that it is able to dodge all of Staravia's attacks. Gardenia thinks that her Turtwig may be faster than Staravia. Ash doesn't believe it. He orders Staravia to use Aerial Ace. Ash doesn't think Turtwig will be able to dodge the attack, but he is wrong. Turtwig dodges the Aerial Ace, and Staravia flies into the bushes. When Staravia comes back onto the field, Turtwig uses Leaf Storm. Turtwig whips up a storm of leaves and fires them at Staravia. Staravia is hit, and it faints. Gardenia wins the battle.

Ash couldn't believe he lost. Sherol introduces herself to Gardenia. Gardenia notices that Sherol has a Mothim. Ash knows that the Eterna Gym is going to be tough. At night, Sherol explains the enchanted honey to Gardenia. Gardenia wants to help out with Sherol's search for the enchanted honey. She explains that she visits the forest a lot, and she knows a Combee wall nearby. Since Combee make the honey, the enchanted honey could be somewhere nearby. Sherol doesn't understand what the Combee wall is. Gardenia tells her that the Combee wall is the place where the Combee make their nectar. They may find a few clues there to where the enchanted honey is located at.

The next day arrives. Team Rocket is wrapped up in bandages from all the Beedrill stings they got. They hear Ash and co. passing by, so they hide in the bushes. When Ash and co. are up ahead, Team Rocket decides to follow them. James accidentally trips and falls to the ground. Ash and co. hear the fall, and they turn around to see Team Rocket. Team Rocket says their motto. Team Rocket takes off their bandages in the end. They want to capture Mothim. James sends out Carnivine. Gardenia immediately notices that grass Pokémon, and she runs on over to Team Rocket. She begs James to trade Carnivine for one of her grass Pokémon. Jessie and Meowth tell Gardenia to leave because they want to capture Mothim for the enchanted honey. James orders Carnivine to use Bite. Carnivine uses Bite and it bites Gardenia. Gardenia apparently loves being bit from Carnivine because it's a grass type. Carnivine then spits Gardenia out.

Jessie sends out Seviper, and James sends out Cacnea. Gardenia immediately falls in love with James' Cacnea. She wants Cacnea to use Pin Missile on her back. Cacnea pin missiles Gardenia's back, and she loves it. Seviper starts off with Poison Tail. Gardenia sends out Turtwig. Turtwig dodges Seviper's attack and bites Seviper's tail. Cacnea uses Pin Missile, but Turtwig counters with Leaf Storm. Cacnea is hurled into the air and lands in Team Rocket's balloon. The balloon lands and Jessie and James hop in it. Jessie still wants to get Mothim. Meowth presses a button on his remote. A mechanical arm pops out of the balloon and grabs Mothim. Gardenia orders Turtwig to use Leech Seed on the mechanical arm. A seed is launched from Turtwig and it lands on the arm. The Leech Seed breaks the arm, freeing Mothim. With Mothim free from Team Rocket, Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on them. Team Rocket blasts off again.

Gardenia is impressed with the power Pikachu has. Ash thanks Gardenia for her compliment. Then Sherol thanks Gardenia for saving her Mothim. Suddenly, Mothim senses something big. Ash and co. follow Mothim to a place with the special flowers. A Nuzleaf approaches Ash and co. Gardenia recognizes the Nuzleaf as a messenger Nuzleaf. Nuzleaf hands the note to Gardenia. Gardenia reads the note and realizes that she has to leave because of an emergency. She wishes Sherol the best of luck with finding the enchanted honey. Then Gardenia leaves. Suddenly, Mothim gets excited again. A Combee appears from the flowers. Knowing that the enchanted honey is close by, Ash and co. decide to follow the Combee into the forest.