>>32649692Different plot, same structure.
Lillie has watched Ash since he has come to the Pokemon School, and no doubt during the episode we'll have a segment that is just Lillie talking with Pikachu or something. More then likely bringing up what she said in the 2nd VS Tapu Koko episode about Ash always having a goal in mind even after having just gotten stronger and how far he goes to protect his Pokemon like how he dove off the cliff to catch Pikachu after it got knocked back in the Koko fight.
I think this episode might mark the beginning of Lillie's transformation into Game-Lillie. As in we see that she has a certain amount of respect or admiration towards Ash in how he acts with and towards his Pokemon.
>>32649712Lillie is ill prepared to properly fight Team Rocket, I could see that Pikachu goes to her defense in order to protect her and winds up hurt and almost captured causing her to jump in the way and protect him similar to how she covered the Pokemon Egg against the Sandlit or how she dove to catch Shiron after being attacked by TR after she hatched.
This lets her touch Pikachu and develop further, Ash shows up and sends them (not) blasting off with Shiron.
As said by Team Rocket in the Winding Woods episode, Pikachu is at his strongest when he is with Ash.
