Our heroes meet up with Shauna, their friend from summer camp, who takes them to see their first Pokémon Showcase! Aria, the Kalos Queen, starts things off with a fantastic exhibition performance with her Braixen. But just as the competition is getting under way, a wild Pancham runs onto the stage and cuts things short with its antics. Ash is disappointed, but Shauna and Serena are delighted that they got to see Aria perform—and Shauna is already making plans to enter the next Pokémon Showcase!

Later, the same Pancham steals Ash’s hat and Clemont’s glasses and runs away. Serena finds Pancham practicing near its cave, which is full of stolen items, and realizes it’s using them as props because, like her, it loves to perform! When she tries to catch it, Team Rocket interrupts the battle. Annoyed, Pancham demonstrates its strength by battling the villains, and then joins Serena on her journey to become a Pokémon performer!