Ash, Pikachu, Ash's mother, and Professor Oak head off for a trip to the Unova region. A strange black cloud forms overhead, and hits Ash's Pikachu with a lightning bolt. After meeting up with Professor Juniper, Unova's lead Pokémon researcher; Ash encounters Trip, who is beginning his Pokémon League challenge with the Grass-type Pokémon Snivy, rather than the Fire-type Tepig or the Water-type Oshawott. In a practice match against Trip, it is discovered that Pikachu can no longer use Electric-type moves, which Juniper attributes to the lightning bolt caused by the Legendary Pokémon, Zekrom.