Ash is on the local farmer's market. Drops his produce, the old lady is there and helps him. But then Litten steals Ash's Bagel! Ash follows and they find Litten and Stoutland's hideout.
Stoutland is teaching Litten Fire Fang. In true SM-fashion, Litten sucks at it. FLASHBACKS!
Back at Kukui's.. Kukui is taking an interest in the footage that Rotom made of Stoutland and Litten.
On the way from/to school, Ash meets up with Team Rocket. But they get instaburned by Litten out of nowhere. To get Ash to get to Stoutland, Meowth trails them.
At the PokéCenter, Stoutland is being monitored. And Meowth is still trailing them. Ash is phoning in the updates to Kukui.
Later that night, Stoutland has disappeared from the PokéCenter, thinking that they're at the regular spot, Ash runs there, but gets intercepted by Meowth, who probably has a good idea what's up.
Somewhere, Litten is failing its Fire Fang (played for jokes, this is SM after all) skills in the rain, while Stoutland is not doing too well. Litten had its nightmare again, and Stoutland is gone when it wakes up.
It goes to the old hideout, but Stoutland isn't there either. At the market, and at the cape, Stoutland is nowhere to be found.. The rain intensifies..
Ash and Kukui find Litten.. they give it space.. The greyscale is intense..
Team Rocket's design still looking ugly as.. well.. since SM. Bewear gives Meowth a hug.
Ash goes to the marketlady and gets Litten a bag filled with tasty sweets. Somehow, Litten isn't excited about this.
The rain just doesn't let up in Alola! The gloomiest region ever!
Heck, even Meowth goes to have a good talk with Litten, but runs off as soon as Ash and his team show up. Ash sticks with Litten while it sleeps.
The sky clear up nd the wind gets a hold of the last leaf.. Litten sees this and follows.. and then we see MufasaStoutland in the clouds.. Litten is suddenly okay and starts frolocking with Ash after hearing his stomach grumble: "This pear is for you!", "nah, for you!", repeat.
This of course turns into a battle during which Litten perfects Fire Fang. At one point there's a moment of nothing happening and Ash just whips out a Pokéball and Litten agrees to getting caught. Talk about an anticlimax.
Meowth has tears in his eyes.. And now Ash has the team we all knew he would get since we saw the opening - and he can finally leave MeleMele.. Hopefully.