#8 "The Path to the Pokémon League"

    Ash goes around challenging other amateur trainers, and doing well. This means instant ego. Confident, he challenges the leader of an unofficial gym, AJ, who tames wild Pokémon and works hard with a strong Sandshrew that has almost 100 victories and no losses. Sandshrew beats Ash's Pidgeotto and Butterfree, and then Team Rocket shows up to steal Pikachu, but end up bagging 'shrew instead.

    Ash tries to convince AJ's remaining Pokémon to go with him instead of AJ, but they all refuse, and Ash can't figure out why... AJ's training techniques are tough and seemingly mean. But when Sandshrew escapes Team Rocket and runs back to AJ, Ash sees that the two are happy together despite it. AJ's Sandshrew beats Team Rocket's Ekans, Koffing and Meowth, and with their 100th victory secured, AJ decides to now go and pursue the Pokémon League, on a different path to Ash... perhaps they'll meet again. (Well, they don't, but oh well.)