After earning the Thunder Badge, Ash and his friends walk across a bridge and spot a luxury liner in the distance. The group takes a closer look at the ship and wants to get on board, but Brock mentions that they cannot afford it, so they walk away. However, Jessie and James, disguised as ganguro girls, give them a free ticket to participate in a Pokémon Trainer party that is going to be held aboard the St. Anne. While Ash and his friends look for the luxury liner, Jessie and James make their way to a nearby lighthouse to meet up with Meowth. Meowth opens up a call with the Boss and notices a Persian fondly rubbing its head against the boss, having replaced Meowth due to the group's constant failure. Female Team Rocket reveals their plan: the party is a ruse to allow female Team Rocket grunts to steal the attending Trainers' Pokémon.