DP026: Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!

is the 26th episode of , and of .
==Synopsis==
With time running out before the start of the Floaroma Town Pokémon Contest, Dawn and Pachirisu are getting in as much training as they can. But it's not just Ash and Brock who are watching from the sidelines, because Dawn's friend Kenny is here to compete in the Contest, too! Both Dawn and Kenny are from Twinleaf Town, and Kenny is full of embarrassing stories about Dawn's childhood. What's more, he chose a Piplup for his first Pokémon, just like Dawn, but his Piplup is now a Prinplup with an attitude!
To add injury to insult, Kenny turns down a challenge from Dawn and asks to battle Ash and Pikachu instead. Pikachu should have the type advantage, but Kenny's Prinplup counters Pikachu's attacks by using its own moves in creative ways. It's so impressive that Team Rocket makes a grab for Prinplup—in order to boost Jessie's chances of Contest victory, James and Meowth are on a mission to steal Pokémon!
Prinplup is unable to escape, so Dawn sends Piplup to stop Team Rocket. Piplup uses a newly-learned move, Whirlpool, to give Prinplup back some of its pep, and the two Water-type Pokémon then beat Team Rocket with a double Bubblebeam. Today's teamwork was terrific, but both Dawn and Kenny have their eye on winning tomorrow's Contest. What will happen once these old friends become new rivals...?
==Episode plot==
Pikachu shows Pachirisu how to store electrical energy, which Pachirisu gets the hang of instantly. Pachirisu begs for a Poffin as a reward, which Dawn gives it. Dawn gives one to Piplup as well and Brock marks she made a really good recipe, well, a too good one - Piplup and Pachirisu beg for more and more. Dawn tells them no, as they have more practicing to do. This causes her, Ash, Piplup and Brock to be discharged. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, calming Pachirisu down by hitting it. Dawn hears Dee-Dee and realizes that must be Kenny, her old childhood friend. Kenny sees her bad hair (from Discharge) and sees she got a Pikachu. Dawn explains it is Ash's and she travels with Ash and Brock.
Jessie has prepared herself for the Contest as Jessilina. She brings Seviper and Dustox out to help James and Meowth pick her Pokémon from the Contest - the one that needs to be stolen, while Jessie goes to "do her stuff". Dawn tells Ash and Brock she and Kenny are friends from childhood. She can't remember what Pokémon Kenny chose, so he sends Prinplup, who got evolved from Piplup. Dawn's Piplup greets Prinplup, but gets pushed aside, as Kenny tells Prinplup does not want anyone to stand in its way. Kenny wants to know why Dawn has copied him, but Dawn tells she and Piplup are meant for one another. Kenny says he saw Dawn at the Jubilife City Contest, even if Dawn did not see him, as she was busy at the time.
Kenny remembers he faced a powerful Coordinator and she got the ribbon fairly easily - her name being Zoey. Kenny remembers Ash also competed in Jubilife City Contest, though Ash tells him he is after the Sinnoh League than Grand Festival. Dawn tells she and Ash met when she saved and brought Pikachu back to him. Kenny studies Ash for a while and tells he has some stories on his own. He tells Ash and Brock that Dawn's mom once got her a haircut she hated, so Dawn tried giving herself a better one, but ended up looking like a Chimchar. Ash, Brock, Pikachu and Piplup were on edge of laughing, much to Dawn's annoyance. He also remembers back at the Nursery, she was acting as a Slowpoke in a play and sneezed, then pulled a rope and everything crashed. Also, she came in pajamas and mismatching shoes one day, and Ash guessed she told people "not to worry" just like always. Dawn is angered and wants to prove she is not the same with a battle, but Kenny wants to battle Ash's Pikachu. Kenny just replies he wants a real challenge, so Ash accepts.
Pikachu starts with a Thunderbolt, but gets countered by Prinplup's Metal Claw. Prinplup charges with Drill Peck, so Pikachu charges as well and spins to dodge the move, then retaliates with Iron Tail. Prinplup uses Bubblebeam on the floor to bounce off. Team Rocket sees the battle and mark Prinplup's abilities. Pikachu and Prinplup collide with an Iron Tail and Metal Claw. Seviper uses Haze to dampen everyone's sight. Ash sends Staravia, who uses Gust to blow away the smoke. It is seen that James and Meowth were going to steal Prinplup. Kenny wants Prinplup back and goes to get it, so James sends Cacnea and Carnivine, who use Bullet Seed and Pin Missile, respectively.
If the heroes make another step, Prinplup will get hurt. Team Rocket go some steps away and Cacnea uses Pin Missile, Dustox Psybeam and Carnivine Bullet Seed to attack the heroes. Piplup jumps and uses a new move it learned, named Whirlpool, to absorb the attacks. Piplup attacks them with Whirlpool and Team Rocket are engulfed in it. Prinplup frees itself from Team Rocket, who try to get away, but get blasted off by Bubblebeam from Prinplup and Piplup. The heroes thank Piplup and anticipate to see it in the next Contest. James and Meowth report to Jessie, who is angry, but knows she has to train Seviper and Dustox for the Contest.
At the Pokémon Center, Prinplup was healed. Kenny promises to Dawn he'll get the ribbon, making Dawn angry. Next day, the contest begins - Buneary and Pikachu cheer for Dawn, while Meowth and James pray that Jessie wins, otherwise they will be roasted. Dawn shows its dress to Kenny, who is a bit nervous, while Jessie is dazzled by her make-up. First is Dawn, who sends Pachirisu. Pachirisu gets out of control and rolls to the judges, then runs in circles. Dawn thinks of something and has an idea.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Kenny
===Pokémon===
*Prinplup (Kenny's)
==Trivia==
*Professor Oak's Pokémon lecture: James's Mime Jr.
===Mistakes===
*Despite Dawn saying that only one person knows about "Dee-Dee", in "Yes, in Dee-Dee it's Dawn!" episode the entire class knows about that nickname.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring Pokémon Contests
Category:Episodes focusing on Dawn
Category:Episodes focusing on Piplup
Category:Episodes focusing on Kenny
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon learning a new move