This article is about an episode of the Pokémon animated series that has not been dubbed into English. As such, its coverage may contain romanized Japanese names, rather than dub names.
Following the vision of a Latios shown to them by Latias, Ash and his friends decide to follow her and help Latios out. While following Latias on Steelix, Latias shows Ash telepathic images of how she had followed him after their initial encounter, including the instance where she had saved him from a fall. Suddenly, Latias starts Sight Sharing another vision with them, showing Latios fleeing from a Pokémon hunter riding on a Hydreigon. The vision cuts off when the hunter fires an energy beam at Latios. Latias starts panicking, especially when her desperate attempts to recontact Latios fail. Since it's about to get dark, Brock suggests they settle down for the night. Ash agrees and calms Latias down by telling her that Latios will be fine. Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth each arrive at the Team Rocket HQ, intending to start their own independent careers as Team Rocket members while being unaware of each other's presence.
At the group's campsite, they figure that the wounds Ash saw on Latias the first time he met her could've been caused by the hunter, and she later escaped with Latios's help. After a filling meal and a good night's sleep, the group wakes up when Latias receives a telepathic message from Latios. They follow Latias to a cave, where they find Latios, who is distrustful towards them. Unfortunately, Ash's attempts to convince him to trust him are interrupted when the hunter, having followed them to the cave, attacks. The group and the Eon Pokémon fight back, but eventually, Latias is struck by an energy beam from the hunter's device, turning her to stone. He flees with Latias, taunting Latios to follow him as Ash sends his Swellow after the hunter. Latios tries to follow, but is too injured to keep flying. Ash manages to convince Latios let him treat his wounds, after which they leave to pursue the hunter, with Ash riding on Latios. They find the hunter on a beach, held back by Swellow.
As soon the hunter spots the group, he flees into an area filled with tall stone pillars that inhibit Latios's movements, petrifying Swellow and Steelix as well to keep them from interfering. Brock advices Ash to destroy the hunter's device to turn the stone Pokémon back to normal. Instructing Latios, Ash has him attack Hydreigon from a close range, freeing Latias from its grasp and getting Pikachu close enough to destroy the hunter's energy blaster with Iron Tail, restoring Latias, Swellow, and Steelix to normal. Ticked off, the hunter relentlessly attacks Latios, until Latios finally agrees to let Ash guide him in this battle. Ash has Latios use Psychic, which, while ineffective against Hydreigon, momentarily blinds it, allowing Latios to land an Aura Sphere from above and defeat Hydreigon. The desperate hunter charges at the Eon Pokémon on foot, but Latias holds him back just as Officer Jenny shows up to take him into custody.
The time comes for the group to say goodbye to Latios and Latias. Despite his wounds not having completely healed yet, Latios, still distrustful towards humans, disregards Ash's concerns about them. Ash asks him to battle together with him some other time as Latios flies away with Latias. The group wonders what the home they're headed for could be like, with Ash thinking he should probably head back home too.
This episode marks the first physical appearance of Bianca and Latias since the aforementioned film.
Latios and Latias going to Alto Mare at the end of this episode references the fact that many individuals of their species come and go from the city. This was originally revealed in the prologue of Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, which was cut from the dub.
Music from Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias is reused in this episode.
