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.
(Japanese: ゴウにライバル！？ミュウへの道！！A Rival for Go!? The Road to Mew!!) is the 68th episode of Pokémon Journeys: The Series, and the 1,153rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on May 28, 2021.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Ash and Goh have traveled to Ash's hometown of Pallet to visit Professor Oak's Laboratory, where Professor Oak himself happily welcomes them. Ash asks Goh if this is his first time here, but Goh tells him that he was here at a Pokémon Camp when he was six. He also remarks how they were held back due to someone being late. Ash figures that the person must've overslept, which makes him and Professor Oak both realize that the person they're speaking of was actually Ash himself.
Goh goes on to tell how the Pokémon Camp was also where he had seen Mew, which had inspired his dream of catching every Pokémon in the world on his path to the Mythical Pokémon. Professor Oak compliments Goh's dream and asks how many Pokémon he's caught so far. In response, Goh shows him a list of his Pokémon from his Rotom Phone. Professor Oak is impressed, especially noting how Goh has managed to catch a Suicune. As such, he decides to tell Goh about Project Mew, a research team that's currently recruiting members in order to find Mew. Goh, however, refuses the offer to join, since he doesn't like working in a team. Professor Oak is surprised, but also respects Goh's choice, before turning to Ash and telling him that his Pokémon are waiting for him.
Ash rushes outside to greet Bulbasaur, Charizard, and many of his other Pokémon, who are just as happy to see him again as he is to see them. Professor Oak, however, mentions that Infernape has been absent for a few days now, and neither he nor Tracey has been able to find it. Goh asks if Infernape was acting oddly before it disappeared, and Professor Oak describes how it did have some battles with Ash's other Fire types before that. Ash wonders if it was training, but regardless, he and Goh decide to go look for it.
While looking for Infernape, Goh spots a Pidgeotto and decides to catch it, since he's already failed to catch one once. However, Pidgeotto escapes from the thrown Poké Ball and blows Ash and Goh straight into an Onix. Goh tries to catch it as well, but yet again, is met with failure. Onix prepares to attack them, but is struck by a Hydro Pump from a Blastoise before it can do so, driving it off. Ash recognizes the Blastoise, and sure enough, Gary steps out from behind it. Ash is happy to see Gary again, but also wonders what he's doing here, since the last time he saw him, he was doing Pokémon research in Sinnoh. Gary explains that these days, he's doing research around the world, and something turned up that made him come to Kanto.
Goh introduces himself to Gary, while Ash explains to Goh that Gary is his childhood friend and longtime rival, as well as the grandson of Professor Oak. Gary says he had heard of Ash having a new buddy, and wanted to see how good he was as a Pokémon Trainer, claiming that Goh would have to be at least as good of a Trainer as he is to qualify as a buddy for Ash. Goh is irritated by Gary's behavior, but Ash assures Goh that Gary used to say the same kind of things to him too. He then changes the subject and asks Gary why he came to Kanto in the first place. Gary explains that he's in search of the Legendary PokémonMoltres, which he's predicted to appear in a valley a short distance away. Ash, in return, explains that he and Goh are looking for his Infernape, which Gary remembers from the Sinnoh League battles he's seen. After hearing of Infernape's battles against Ash's other Fire types, Gary figures Infernape could be headed to the same valley as he is, so Ash and Goh tag along with him.
Goh is barely able to keep up with Ash and Gary, but eventually, they all arrive at the valley. Gary explains that the valley was formed by flowing magma, which explains why Moltres would show up there. In addition, the local flowers have bloomed early, which is a result of Moltres bringing an early spring to wherever it goes. Using these pieces of information, Gary had been able to figure out Moltres would appear here, but now he also has a new piece of evidence: Ash's Infernape. He's seen it training before at Oak's Laboratory, so it'd make sense for it to wish to challenge a Legendary Fire type to grow stronger. And if it truly is here, it means it's been able to sense Moltres's presence. Just then, they hear Infernape's cry as it calls out for Moltres from a nearby tree. Spotting its Trainer, Infernape jumps over to Ash and happily greets him. The happy reunion has barely enough time to conclude before Gary tells them to look up, revealing that Moltres has responded to Infernape's call and arrived.
Ash agrees to fight by Infernape's side and tells it to use Flamethrower. However, the Fire-type move is easily absorbed by Moltres, who responds by encircling Infernape in a Fire Spin. Infernape is able to escape from the fiery vortex with Dig, but its Mach Punch fails to make contact, while its Flare Blitz is overpowered by Moltres's Air Slash. Gary joins the battle by sending out Blastoise, who scores a direct hit on Moltres with Hydro Pump. Blastoise then too gets trapped in a Fire Spin, but manages to escape from it with a Rapid Spin. While its subsequent Skull Bash is dodged, its Water Pulse lands a hit, dealing super effectivedamage on the Legendary bird Pokémon. Suddenly, Moltres's wing and tail flames grown bigger and brighter, which Gary recognizes as the move Burn Up. Blastoise attacks and scores a hit with Hydro Pump, but Burn Up still goes off, dealing lots of damage on Blastoise. Ash asks what Burn Up does, and Gary explains that it causes the user to no longer be a Fire type.
Moltres next attacks with Hurricane, which quickly overpowers Blastoise's Rapid Spin counterattack and defeats it. Goh also joins in and sends out Cinderace, but Moltres easily dodges its Pyro Ball and uses Air Slash. Before Cinderace can be hit, Ash and Gary quickly call forth Pikachu and Electivire, who counterattack with Thunderbolt and Thunder, respectively. The Electric-type attacks break through Air Slash and strike Moltres, dealing even more damage to it and causing it to fly away. Gary, however, says they don't need to chase after it, since the burning feather it dropped upon departing is exactly what he had come for in the first place, placing it inside of a glass jar. Goh, meanwhile, is dismayed to notice that he failed to record any footage of the battle. A Corviknight appears, and Gary places the jar containing the Moltres feather into the bag it's carrying, before the Raven Pokémon flies off.
Back at Professor Oak's Laboratory, Professor Oak is surprised to hear what had happened. Ash says that battling with Moltres was fun, but then notices Gary being further away, talking with someone on his Rotom Phone. Professor Oak reveals that Gary is taking part in Project Mew, and finding the Moltres feather was apparently his Trial Mission. Upon the feather's authenticity being verified, Gary receives a token on his phone. Ash asks what the token is for, and Gary explains that they are received for completing Trial Missions. Gary then turns to Goh, saying that he made a wise choice in deciding not to join Project Mew with his current Trainer level. As Gary prepares to leave, Ash asks him what he'll be doing next. Gary says he'll be researching everything related to Pokémon, which includes researching Mew, which is said to contain the genes of every Pokémon. He understands his goal might seem impossible, but he's not giving up on it.
Watching Gary walk away, Goh declares that he'll join Project Mew after all. Professor Oak is happy for this decision and tells Goh that Gary's provocations were likely intended to lead him to this very choice. Goh admits that Gary completely beat him, but swears to try harder so it won't happen again.
Although the synopsis is about Ash meeting his Pokémon in the episode, there were some notable absences:
Kingler is Ash's only Kanto Pokémon residing at Professor Oak's Laboratory not to appear in this episode.
Noctowl is Ash's only Johto Pokémon not to appear in this episode.
Consequently, this makes Kingler and Noctowl the only Pokémon at Oak's lab that Ash caught in the original series to not appear in this episode.
Corphish is Ash's only Hoenn Pokémon to appear in this episode.
Torkoal is Ash's only Fire-type Pokémon residing at Professor Oak's Laboratory not to appear in this episode.
Ash's Kalos team residing at Professor Oak's Laboratory are the only ones to have the entirety of its roster appear in this episode.
Gary undergoes his second costume change in this episode, now wearing his game counterpart's outfit from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. He has also undergone a physical redesign with a less pointed face, larger eyes, and the newer Ken Sugimori-style irises.
