PJ071: Leaping Toward the Dream!

is the 23rd episode of , and of .
==Synopsis==
Goh’s request to try out for the Project Mew research team has been accepted! He and Ash travel to Mt. Coronet in the Sinnoh region, where Project Mew member Danika explains Goh’s first task—catch an Alolan Ninetales who’s stuck on the mountain! Our heroes soon realize it won’t be easy, because when they find Ninetales, the typically tranquil Pokémon is angry. It uses Blizzard, and Quillon of Project Mew has to rescue Goh and Ash. Eventually, Goh gets Ninetales to calm down, and he catches it so Project Mew can return it to Alola. Having passed the test, Goh is now an official challenger to join Project Mew!
==Episode plot==
At the Cerise Laboratory, Goh receives an email on his Rotom Phone notifying him of his first mission for “Project Mew”. As Ash and the lab's researchers gather around Goh, he reads out that he must go to a laboratory located at the base of Mt. Coronet, a mountain in the Sinnoh region. Goh excitedly decides to bring Ash along on his first mission and the two head off for Sinnoh.
The two boys wander through the woods surrounding Mt. Coronet before coming across a small lab. There, they spot Danika chatting with Gary Oak, the latter of which approaches them and welcomes them to the project. Gary states that “Project Mew” won't be easy for some Trainers, especially looking at Goh during this statement, and wishes the two good luck on their first mission. Gary's comment angers Goh, though the two quickly head over to the lab. At the lab, they are greeted by a Mime Jr. and a man carrying lots of heavy boxes, which the boys help with. Once the boys are done carrying the boxes, Goh finds a blurred picture of Mew that the man comments on, stating that the hunt for Mew makes him nostalgic. The man then properly introduces himself as Professor Hodaka, the leader of “Project Mew”. The three are then interrupted by Danika, who gives the boys a proper introduction to the project.
As Danika introduces the two boys to the project, she shows various details including the ranking system in the project. Once a mission is completed, the participant will receive a special medal from the project as well as the ability to become a “Chaser”, a person that looks for and tracks Mew. Ash also asks if he can join Goh in the project to which Danika allows him, stating that teamwork between Trainers is essential in the project. The two boys then notice the lab flying up from the ground like a drone as Danika gives the boys their first mission: capture an Alolan Ninetales in the north side of Mt. Coronet. The boys have a six-hour limit and must return with the Pokémon by then.
The boys send out some of their Pokémon to help with the search for Ninetales, though they quickly find out that the Pokémon is very difficult to find, especially in the freezing environment which is unsuitable for Ash and Goh's searching Pokémon. The two return their Pokémon and take a break from looking until they hear Goh's Scizor calling in the distance. When Ash and Goh find Scizor, they see that it has found an Alolan Ninetales and is quietly watching. The two are amazed by the Pokémon's beauty until it angrily uses Ice Beam, nearly hitting Goh. Goh realizes that he must battle the Pokémon in order to capture it.
Ash comments on Ninetales’ weakness to -type attacks, so he orders Scizor to attack with Metal Claw. Scizor lunges forward to attack, though Ninetales quickly jumps out of the way and freezes Scizor with another Ice Beam attack. Ninetales then uses Blizzard while Goh returns his Scizor. The strong winds from Blizzard begin to blow Ash and Goh away as they begin to white out.
The boys find themselves in a small cave with someone and his Weavile looking outside as the blizzard continues to rage. The boys are met with a boy named Tsurugi who explains he is part of “Project Mew”. Goh asks why an Alolan Ninetales is in the Sinnoh region, and Tsurugi explains that it was smuggled from its home on Mount Lanakila by Pokémon Hunters. However, it escaped after their plane crashed and left the Pokémon stranded away from home, much to Ash and Goh's surprise. As the storm subsides, the three emerge from the cave and continue to look for Ninetales while there is still time. Ash and Goh once again come across Ninetales, ready to battle it. Goh throws a Poké Ball, though Ninetales jumps out of the way and uses Ice Beam. Goh sends out Cinderace and orders it to use Quick Attack, though Ninetales hits Cinderace with Dazzling Gleam before it can attack. Cinderace also attempts to use Blaze Kick, though Ninetales protects itself with Aurora Veil. Finally, Cinderace uses Pyro Ball which breaks through Aurora Veil and hits Ninetales. Goh throws a Poké Ball in an attempt to catch Ninetales again, though another mysterious Pokémon freezes the Poké Ball with Ice Beam.
Suddenly, from a nearby glacier, a Regice awakens and begins to attack to group due to the commotion. It attacks with Ice Beam, though Pikachu stops it with Thunderbolt. Goh focuses on Ninetales as he approaches it, telling Cinderace to stop fighting as it holds Grookey. Goh continues to approach the angered Ninetales as it once again uses Aurora Veil to protect itself. Despite its anger, Goh continues to stare down the Ninetales as it realizes Goh only wants to help it. The Ninetales stops its veil and allows Goh to catch it. Goh throws a Poké Ball towards the Pokémon and successfully catches it. Goh then suddenly hears the noise caused by Regice battling Ash.
Tsurugi approaches the Regice as it prepares to use Hyper Beam. Tsurugi sends out an Urshifu, which quickly attacks Regice with Wicked Blow, sending it back with a single strike. With Ninetales caught and Regice weakened, the three decide to head back to the lab to show their catch.
The three return and are greeted by Danika who thanks Goh for his contribution to the project. She also states that catching Ninetales was only a test and by proving that he could find it, he had finally become a member of “Project Mew”. Professor Hodaka enters the room and thanks Tsurugi for helping the two boys with their mission while accepting Ash and Goh into “Project Mew”. The group prepares for their next mission with "Project Mew" as the lab flies off past Mt. Coronet.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Professor Amaranth
*Quillon
===Pokémon===
*Goh's Ninetales (caught; then released)
*Kubfu
*Urshifu (Quillon's)
*Quillon's Weavile
===Move===
*Wicked Blow
==Trivia==
*This episode marks the first time a Regional form is caught in a different region from the region it is found, this being Goh's Alolan Ninetales caught in Sinnoh.
*The outfits given to Ash, Goh and Tsurugi when they traverse Mt. Coronet are similar to the exploration suits given to the player in The Crown Tundra DLC in Pokémon Sword and Shield.
*This is the first episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series without "Dare Da?". Instead, featuring Ash, Goh and Pikachu as the bumper.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a new Pokémon
Category:Episodes in which a main character releases or gives away a Pokémon
Category:Episodes featuring Legendary Pokémon
Category:Episodes focusing on Project Mew
Category:Episodes featuring Champions