RS044: The Princess and the Togepi

is the 4th episode of Pokémon: Advanced Challenge.
==Synopsis==
Ash and friends welcome an old friend—Misty! She's received an invitation to a Togepi Festival, and is soon greeted by Team Rocket disguised as the operating committee for the festival. They escort Misty and Togepi inside a large building, which turns out to be a concealed zeppelin. Ash and friends climb aboard before takeoff, and the aircraft makes its way to the Mirage Kingdom.
Misty leaves the zeppelin and is met by Colonel Hansen, who demands that she turn over Togepi. Ash and Brock step forward to protect her, sending out Mudkip and Pikachu. Misty, May, and Max flee while Pikachu and Mudkip battle Colonel Hansen's two Ninjask.
Colonel Hansen's Shedinja catches up with Misty, who sends out her Corsola. During the battle, Togepi is blasted away and found unconscious in a stream by the princess of the Mirage Kingdom. A servant tells the king that the princess has finally found a Togepi, and they all gather in the princess' quarters to look at it.
Misty arrives and demands the return of her Togepi. The princess and the servant explain that Togepi are worshipped in the Mirage Kingdom, and in order to become ruler, the princess must have one in her possession for the coronation ceremony. Colonel Hansen wants the throne for himself, which is why he tried to steal Misty's Togepi. The princess decides to send Misty and friends home with Togepi.
As the gang are about to board the zeppelin, a mirror image of the temple appears in the sky. Togepi begins to glow and float toward it. Colonel Hansen arrives with Team Rocket, and his Shedinja attacks the group using Solar Beam, which Pikachu attempts to block with Thundershock.
==Episode plot==
The heroes is waiting for someone to arrive by the lake. That someone is running towards them; Ash and Brock greet the person, who is Misty, along with Togepi. Misty greets Brock and Ash Ketchum, who wonder how she is doing as Gym Leader. Misty admits she is quite busy at the Gym, but her sisters were generous enough to give her some free time to visit Hoenn. May and Max are interested in Misty, who also heard much about them as well. Misty admits Togepi was the one that made it possible for her to visit her friends. Misty shows them an invitation to the Togepi Festival, where trainers and their Togepi gather in the hotel they are standing close to. Ash goes inside, but Misty reminds him she was invited, but will take them all as guests. Two men dressed appear and take Misty and Togepi inside the building. The men place Misty and Togepi in a zeppelin and lock the door so the others can't enter.
The men are actually Jessie and James, who tell Meowth Togepi is captured. Meowth pulls a rope, causing the zeppelin to take off, but the heroes grab onto a rope, in time, before the zeppelin gets off. While Misty worries, the heroes enter the zeppelin, which crosses the desert and goes through a sandstorm. Brock sees this and warns everyone to grab onto something. May claims this could be her last expedition, but Max asks her to drop the act. With some difficulty, the zeppelin arrives at a place called Mirage Kingdom. As Team Rocket lands the zeppelin, a woman notices the zeppelin has arrived. Team Rocket comes after Misty, claiming they have arrived. After exiting the zeppelin, Team Rocket explains they are at Mirage Kingdom. Ash, Brock, May and Max yell to get Misty's attention, since they also took the zeppelin. The heroes demand to know who these men are, so Team Rocket takes off the disguises. Misty is disgusted Team Rocket never gives up on capturing Pikachu. Team Rocket corrects Misty, for this time, they are after Togepi. Meowth charges to attack, but is stopped by a man. Team Rocket mentions it is Colonel Hansen, who is furious at them and slams Meowth at James' head. Hansen is disgusted, since he asked for Togepi, not for these trainers as well.
Colonel Hansen demands Togepi, as well as the heroes to leave. Misty refuses, so Hansen snaps his fingers, causing a Shedinja to appear, who fires Solar Beam. More Pokémon appear, who are Ninjask. Misty shakes in fear, as Brock points out Misty is scared of bug-type Pokémon. Brock sends Mudkip to fight, while May, Max and Misty leave the area. Ninjask use Shadow Ball, to which Pikachu uses Thunderbolt and Mudkip Water Gun to negate the attacks. As Max, May and Misty run off, Hansen has Shedinja go after Misty's Togepi. Team Rocket, however, wishes to know what they could do for Colonel Hansen. Misty, Max and May run, but wonder why would Hansen be after Togepi. The trio hides in a maze, but Shedinja manages to find them. Misty sends Corsola, who uses Spike Cannon, but the attack does nothing to Shedinja. Shedinja uses Solar Beam, blowing away the trio. Misty loses Togepi, who is blown away. Togepi lands in a fountain right by a woman. She glad Togepi "has finally arrived to her" and turns to her servant, Miranda, as they need to heal her.
Pikachu uses Thunderbolt against Ninjask, but it is an illusion of Double Team. Ash and Brock feel overpowered, as Ninjask are also using the smoke as cover. Ash almost falls into a hole, making Brock realize that the Ninjask know using Dig move. Without further ado, Ash, Pikachu, Mudkip and Brock go in the hole. Meanwhile, the king of Mirage Kingdom has been reported of the attack. Suddenly, Miranda explains the King the princess got a Togepi. The princess bandages Togepi, claiming it will be fine, while the Queen is pleased the succession ceremony can be performed tomorrow. The king comes to the princess, seeing it is actually a miracle Togepi had come to the Mirage Kingdom. Suddenly, Misty appears, demanding Togepi back and wanting to know why would they want Togepi. Colonel Hansen returns to the king, warning these are the intruders, but May and Misty point out Hansen is the one that wanted them in Mirage Kingdom, and even attacked them. The king demands Hansen to leave, who mischievously looks at Togepi. Ash and Brock join Misty, Max and May. The King has been explained that Togepi is, indeed, Misty's. Seeing the princess had actually cured Togepi, Misty is grateful for such hospitality. The heroes introduce themselves to the princess, who is Sara.
The King explains that Hansen has been plotting to disrupt things for the ceremony and apologizes in his name. Sara admits she knew Togepi was Misty's the moment Togepi was glad to see Misty and knew it was too good to be true for Togepi to come to her. The king has Miranda prepare a ship away from Mirage Kingdom, but Misty wants to know why is everyone interested in Togepi. Miranda explains that Togepi is the guardian of peace in Mirage Kingdom. The ceremony requires the heir to the throne to seek out Togepi in order to succeed. Miranda admits the king also had a Togepi, who went back whence it came, which is a symbol the current leader was just and righteous. However, the ceremony, which is to be held tomorrow in the temple, would make Sara the heir to the throne, but Sara is not so successful, for the ceremony cannot start without Togepi's presence. Sara believes Col. Hansen was plotting to steal Togepi and make himself the King, making Max wonder what power does Togepi have. Sara glooms, but Brock tries to flirt with her, only to get pulled by his ear by Misty. Ash claims it's just like the old times for Brock and Misty, while Max and May are startled by this brutal act, as Misty tosses Brock away.
Misty wonders what they could do, but Sara points out they are already in too much danger. Misty worries for Sara, who claims everything will be fine. Meanwhile, Hansen tells Team Rocket he needs Togepi to proclaim himself as the King, to begin a new age. Team Rocket cheers for Hansen, who promises he will give them great power, if they have Togepi before the ceremony tomorrow. When the heroes are about to leave on the zeppelin, a strong air blows. Suddenly, everyone sees a mirage of the temple in the sky, facing downwards. Togepi begins to float, but is stopped by a Shedinja. Shedinja uses Solar Beam, but Misty grabs Togepi before the attack is launched. Hansen appears with Team Rocket, demanding Togepi to be handed over to him. Misty refuses, so Hansen orders Shedinja to use Solar Beam. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, cancelling the attack.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Colonel Hansen
*Miranda
*Royal Family of Mirage Kingdom 
**King of the Mirage Kingdom
**Queen of the Mirage Kingdom
**Princess Sara
===Pokémon===
*Ninjask
*Shedinja
==Trivia==
*Featured Pokémon: Carvanha, Diglett, Minun, Slugma.
**The "Trainer's Choice" answer was Minun.
*The English title is a reference to "The Princess and the Pea".
*This is the first appearance of Misty's Advanced Generation outfit.
*Misty dragging Brock by the ear is what inspires Max to do so in future episodes.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes focusing on Misty
Category:Episodes focusing on Togepi
Category:Episodes in which a main character joins the group
Category:Episodes focusing on Team Rocket
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes focusing on Brock
Category:Episodes focusing on May
Category:Episodes focusing on Max