Pokemon Season 1: Pokemon Indigo League
Pokemon Season 1: Pokemon Indigo League

 

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Pokemon: Indigo League
Season 1
Pokemon Indigo Season 1 Logo
General information
 Episodes  52 TV Episodes
 79 Video Release Episodes
 Series  Original Series
 Region  Kanto
 Following series  Adventures in the Orange Islands
 First Episode  Pokemon, I Choose You!
 Last Episode  Friends to the End
 Related Movie(s)  Mewtwo Strikes Back
Quick menu: Official Description / Episode List / Travelling Companions / Key Events & Gym Battles / Pokemon / TV Broadcasts / DVD, Blu-Ray and Streaming

Ash and PikachuPokemon Indigo League was initially just known as 'Pokemon' and is the first season of the Pokemon Anime that was dubbed and released in English. The subtitle 'Indigo League' was added by the official DVD and VHS releases and is a direct reference to the Indigo Plateau, where the Kanto Pokemon league is hosted.

The story begins by following Ash Ketchum; a ten year old boy who has just got his Pokemon Trainer license. It follows the journey of Ash and Pikachu leaving Pallet town on their adventures (and misadventures) as he sets out to try and fulfill his ambition of becoming a Pokémon Master. The whole season is set in the Kanto region. You can click here to read a summarised version of this seasons key events.

Prior to it's English dub being released, Pokemon Season 1 was aired in Japan between April 1st, 1997 and August 6th, 1998. The first aired episode was "Pokemon, I Choose You!".

The theme songs for this season were: "Aim to be a Pokemon Master" by Rica Matsumoto in Japan and "Pokemon theme" by Jason Paige for the English opening. There was also a PokéRap segment at the end of each episode which would "rap" the names of 30 different Pokemon of the complete 151, changing the Pokemon in it each time; this was intended to help viewers remember the names of all the Pokémon.

In the U.S in terms of television airings there were 52 televised episodes originally out of 79 produced, meaning 27 were available exclusively on VHS and DVD. The first season aired in the United States in 1998 with the first episode being "Battle Aboard the St. Anne" which aired on September 8th, 1998 and ran right the way up to May 1st, 1999 when the final episode of Season 1 "The Breeding Center Secret" was finally shown on May 1st, 1999. Shortly after it was aired in the USA, YTV picked up the series for airing in Canada.

This season was directly succeeded by Pokemon Season 2: Adventures in the Orange Islands which continued the story of Ash and his friends in the Kanto region and their offshore Islands, collectively known as the Orange Archipelago.

The Intro for Pokemon Indigo League

Official Description

It’s Ash Ketchum’s tenth birthday, and he’s ready to do what many 10-year-olds in the Kanto region set out to do—become a Pokémon Trainer! Things don’t go exactly the way he planned when he ends up with a Pikachu instead of a standard first Pokémon, and winning Gym Badges turns out to be much tougher than he thought. Luckily he’s got former Gym Leaders Brock and Misty at his side, along with a bevy of new Pokémon friends, including Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.

Episode List

Picture Episode #
(Season)
Episode #
(Overall)
Episode name
(Intl / Japan)

Air dates
(Intl / Japan)
episode001 11089 1 1 "Pokémon, I Choose You!"

"Pokemon! Kimi ni Kimeta!" (ポケモン! きみにきめた!)
(Pokémon! I Choose You!)
September 8, 1998

April 1, 1997
Ash Ketchum has just had his 10th birthday and can finally get his Pokémon trainers license. Ash has looked forward to getting his Pokémon for so long that he couldn't sleep and ended up turning up late to Professor Oaks lab only to find all the standard starter Pokémon have been taken. Professor Oak can see Ash is genuinely devastated to have been late and missed out on Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur so tells Ash there is one other Pokémon he could take... a rather disobedient Pikachu that doesn't like going inside it's Pokéball.

Ash and Pikachu set off on their journey, with Pikachu completely ignoring Ash, and Ash having to pull him along with a rope. Ash tries and fails to catch a few different Pokémon while being mocked by Pikachu until eventually Ash throws a rock which hits a Spearow on it's head. The Spearow calls it's whole flock to attack Ash and Pikachu in retribution for this. Ash borrows a girls bike and the two try to escape the flock but to no avail, with the Spearow flying directly at him and Pikachu Ash chooses to shield Pikachu with his body and stands in the way. Pikachu realises at this point Ash does infact care for him and uses a powerful electric attack to fend off the Spearow, destroying the girls bike in the process. As Ash and Pikachu wake up they see a mysterious golden bird flying over, like no Pokémon they've ever heard of.
episode002 11090 2 2 "Pokémon Emergency!"

"Taiketsu! Pokemon Sentā!"
(たいけつ! ポケモンセンター!)
(Showdown! Pokémon Center!)
September 9, 1998

April 8, 1997
Ash rushes Pikachu to the nearby Viridian City in search of it's Pokemon Center. Officer Jenny apprehends Ash, suspicious as to why he's carrying Pikachu rather than it being in it's Pokeball, Ash explains and officer Jenny takes him to the Pokemon Center. While Pikachu is being treated by Nurse Joy, Misty (the girl whose Bike ash borrowed) bursts in and vows to follow Ash until he pays her back for destroying her bike. Shortly after, the Pokémon Center is attacked by three members of Team Rocket; Jessie, James and their talking Meowth who are there to steal all the injured Pokémon from the infirmary as they see them as easy targets. Pikachu, alongside an abudance of other Pikachu work together to fight off Team Rocket, little did we know this would be the first of many occurences of Team Rocket involuntarily "blasting off".
episode003 11091 3 3 "Ash Catches a Pokémon"

"Pokemon Getto da ze!" (ポケモンゲットだぜ!)
(I Got a Pokémon!)
September 10, 1998

April 15, 1997
Ash heads into the Viridian Forest accompanied by Pikachu and Misty. It's there that he captures his first Pokemon, a Caterpie which for some reason Misty is terrified of as it seems she has a phobia of bug type Pokemon. As they continue through Viridian Forest Ash encounters and catches a Pidgeotto and things are looking up! However what they don't know is that Team Rocket have been following them since the Pokemon Center in Viridian City, having witnessed (and experienced first hand) the power of Pikachu's thundershocks themselves they're now intent on stealing Ash's Pikachu (as in their view it seems more powerful than the average Pikachu) as a present for their boss... Team Rocket engage Ash in battle and Ash and his little team manage to fend them off, resulting in Ash's Caterpie evolving into Metapod!
episode004 11092 4 4 "Challenge of the Samurai"

"Samurai Shōnen no Chōsen!"
(サムライしょうねんのちょうせん!)
(Challenge of the Samurai Boy!)
September 11, 1998

April 22, 1997
While exploring the Viridian Forest Ash and his group encounter a Samurai who challenges Ash to a battle, said battle wouldn't exactly pack out a stadium, as it turns out to be Metapod vs. Metapod! Since both Metapod's only know harden the battle isn't very eventful but then suddenly a Beedrill swarm attacks and kidnaps Ash's Metapod. He manages to find his Metapod at the Beedrill nest and rescue it, triggering it to evolve into it's final evolutionaly stage; Butterfree.
episode005 11093 5 5 "Showdown in Pewter City"

"Nibi Jimu no Tatakai!" (ニビジムのたたかい!)
(Battle of Nibi Gym!)
September 11, 1998

April 22, 1997
After heading to Pewter City to challenge it's gym leader and try to win his first gym badge Ash and his group meet a mysterious rock salesman called Flint. Ash challenges Brock, the Pewter City gym leader but loses the battle. Outside the gym they meet Flint again who takes Ash & Misty to Brocks house where he see's brock in an apron caring for his younger brothers and sisters, a role he assumed after his father left them. Flint then takes Ash and Pikachu to the Watermill for training to make Pikachu stronger for the next battle. Ash challenges Brock again and this time it looks as though he might just win, when suddenly a fire breaks out in the gym, prompting the sprinklers to go off and weaken Onix, Brock's main Pokemon (a rock type, weak to water). Ash could have easily leveraged the water to have acquired an easy victory via a thundershock but the thought of Brock's younger siblings makes him hesitant to exploit the situation, when Ash opens his eyes from this thought he is literally being held back by BBrock's younger siblings! Ash leaves the gym without the badge, but shortly after Brock catches up to him and awards him the Boulder Badge. It turns out that the mysterious rock salesman, Flint was Brock's father. Flint tells Brock he will take over responsibility for caring for his children, and for running the Pewter City gym which allows Brock to accompany Ash and Misty on their journey.
episode006 11094 6 6 "Clefairy and the Moon Stone"

"Pippi to Tsuki no Ishi" (ピッピとつきのいし)
(Pippi and the Moon Stone)
September 15, 1998

May 6, 1997
Ash and his friends arrive at Mt. Moon where they find Team Rocket causing chaos in their search for the mysterious Moon Stone. With the assistance of a scientist called Seymour the trio are able to recover the Moon Stone and save the Clefairy's that watch over it. Brock then catches a Zubat.
episode007 11095 7 7 "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City"

"Hanada Shiti no Suichūka" (ハナダシティのすいちゅうか)
(The Underwater Flowers of Hanada City)
September 16, 1998

May 13, 1997
The journey continues with Ash seeking his second gym badge and the course is set for Cerulean City. However Misty seems extremely reluctant to follow on this path and disappears before they get there. On arrival to the Cerulean Gym Ash and Pikachu witness three beautiful sisters performing a synchonized swimming show, leaving Ash in doubt as to whether he's in the right place for a Pokemon battle. Once they finish their show the three sisters reveal that they are infact the Gym Leaders but because they've converted the gym into a big arena for a water show they offer to just give Ash the badge. Misty appears out of nowhere and is revealed to be the fourth of the Cerulean sisters, angry that they were willing to simply give away gym badges Misty steps up and say's she will battle Ash. During the gym battle between Misty and Ash, Team Rocket show up and try to steal all the water Pokémon - Ash again helps to fend them off and Misty's Sisters award the Cascade Badge to Ash for helping save their Pokemon.
episode008 11096 8 8 "The Path to the Pokémon League"

"Pokemon Rīgu e no Michi" (ポケモンリーグへのみち)
(The Road to the Pokémon League)
September 17, 1998

May 20, 1997
An increasingly confident Ash sets out on his journey for Vermillion City accompanied by his new friends but along the way they hear talk of a trainer named A.J, a hardened trainer who has never been beaten. This appeals to Ash who naturally wanted to be the one to beat him first so they head to A.J's (unofficial) gym, on arrival they see a huge sign stating "98 Consecutive Victories" making a win against A.J in Ash's eyes an even bigger prize. A.J reveals that upon reaching 100 consecutive victories he himself is going to embark on a journey to travel around Kanto challenging gym leaders. Ash, Misty and Brock witness the tough way A.J trains his Pokémon and have mixed feelings about it.
episode009 11097 9 9 "The School of Hard Knocks"

"Pokemon Hisshō Manyuaru" (ポケモンひっしょうマニュアル)
(Pokémon Certain Victory Manual)
September 18, 1998

May 27, 1997
While lost deep in a forest shrouded by a thick mist our heroes decide to take a break from being lost for a minute and have a rest. Ash goes to take a look for some firewood when he overhears a commotion so he goes to investigate. He finds a young boy (Joe) being bullied by five seemingly older boys. It turns out that all of them are pupils at a preparatory school for Pokemon Trainers, where succesful graduates get to enter the Pokemon League without requiring any gym badges. The five older boys were bullying the younger boy because his knowledge of Pokemon wasn't good enough, making him a disgrace to their prestiged school; PokéTech. Ash, Misty and Brock follow Joe to the building where he states that even him as the bottom of the class is more powerful than someone with Two Gym Badges. Ash is about to battle him to prove him wrong then Misty steps in and battles him instead (taking great offence to this comment as she was taught in a proper gym), with her much stronger Starmie easily overwhelming Joe's weaker Weepinbel despite the type advantage. Giselle, the top student sees this and continues to lay into Joe about how embarassing he is to PokéTech.

Misty confronts Giselle for her attitude and they end up battling, Giselle being so overconfident that she chooses a Graveller despite the type advantage, and quickly beats Misty's Starmie. They then move outside by the pool so Giselle can beat Misty in an area which would be to her advantage, but Giselle starts taunting Ash and he battles her instead. After it looking very much like defeat for Ash against Giselle's Cubone, Ash and Pikachu manage to turn it around and win the battle. Team Rocket show up shortly after but are quickly repelled by Giselle and the other students. Giselle, humbled by her defeat by Ash becomes a better human being and the journey continues.
episode010 11098 10 10 "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village"

"Kakurezato no Fushigidane" (かくれざとのフシギダネ)
(Fushigidane of the Hidden Village)
September 21, 1998

June 3, 1997
Our heroes are continuing on their journey to Vermillion City (well hopefully, they're a bit lost.) and take a short break near a pond. After seeing an Oddish drinking from the pool Misty and Ash jump straight up to try to catch it. After laying into the Oddish Misty throws a ball to catch it, the ball is batted away by a Bulbasaurs vine whip and fails to catch it. The Bulbasaur stands in front of Oddish to protect it, it then attacks and defeats Starmie quickly. Ash steps in and battles Bulbasaur with Butterfree, the wily Bulbasaur blows Butterfrees own sleep powder back at it, defeats it and Oddish & Bulbasaur flee into the bushes. Shortly after the trio find themselves crossing a rope bridge which promptly collapses as they're crossing it, Brock falls into the water and is swept away but Ash and Misty manage to climb across, only to be caught in a trap and get stuck in a tree. Brock appears beneath them and cuts them down. Brock had been saved by a beautiful girl who pulled him out of the water. The three go back to her hut in the woods where Brock introduces his friends to Melanie who has just finished feeding a load of Pokémon. It's then revealed that Melanie runs a sort of sanctuary where Pokémon can come and be safe and relax without battling etc. It turns out that the Oddish Ash and Misty tried to catch was one of the ones from the sanctuary. It turns out that the whole place is also surrounded by Team Rocket style traps in order to keep the Pokemon safe.

The group start helping Melanie care for the Pokemon and Misty apologises to Oddish for what happened previously. Oddish befriends Misty when she shows remorse. Bulbasaur turns up and is less understanding and takes Misty from behind. Ash is about to take Bulbasaur on in battle when Melanie steps in and explains that Bulbasaur volunteered to be the guardian of her Pokemon Sanctuary. Bulbasaur growls at Ash and clearly wants him to leave the village. Team Rocket finally make it to the sanctuary after falling victim to various traps where they attempt to steal all the Pokemon with a big suction machine. Bulbasaur rescues Oddish just in time, and Ash helps push Bulbasaur against the wind to escape into the cabin. Ash sends out Pidgeotto to get rid of Team Rocket and they are promptly blown away by a whirlwind. With the village safe, Melanie offers Bulbasaur (who has now fortunately warmed to Ash a little) to Ash, and that he needs to travel and to grow and that the village is too small for him. Bulbasaur communicates that he will join Ash on one condition, that he takes him on in battle first! Pikachu manages to defeat Bulbasaur in battle and our heroes say their goodbye and leave the village.
episode011 11099 11 11 "Charmander – The Stray Pokémon"

"Hagure Pokemon, Hitokage" (はぐれポケモン・ヒトカゲ)
(The Stray Pokémon – Hitokage)
September 22, 1998

June 10, 1997
Ash and friends are finally on the right path to Vermillion City but along the way they come to a Rock where they find a stray Charmander sitting. Ash's first instinct is to try and catch it but it turns out that it has a trainer and so can't be captured. Thinking it best to leave the Charmander alone because it belongs to someone our heroes continue to the Pokemon Center where they overhear a nasty Pokémon trainer called Damian bragging about how he left his dumb Charmander on a rock because he thought it was weak, he had promised it he would come back but had no intentions of doing so. Meanwhile heavy rain is starting outside which could kill Charmander if it put out the flame on it's tail. Ash rushes to find the Charmander who is still huddled, loyally waiting on the rock, weak and being attacked by Spearow with it's flame almost out. Ash, Misty and Brock are running with Charmander desperately trying to get it to the Pokemon Center before its now very weak flame goes out. They get it to Nurse Joy just in time who is able to save it.

Early the next morning Brock wakes everyone up to find that Charmander has disappeared from the Emergency room. They suspect that Charmander will have headed back to the Rock to wait for Damian so they head back there. Team Rocket have set a trap for them nearby, minus Pikachu our heroes fall into the hole and Team Rocket turn up in shock proof suits to steal Pikachu. With Pikachu captured in a rubber bag and our heroes still trapped in a hole Team Rocket are about to escape but Charmander stops them and saves the day. Damian had been hiding in the bushes and witnessing the events, now seeing that Charmander isn't weak like he thought he tries to claim Charmander and get it back. He says things which it make it clear he is a horrible Pokemon Trainer, Charmander rejects Damian, throws his PokéBall back in his face and joins Ash's Team! Damian runs off crying, burnt and electrocuted. Ash got a Pokemon, and a new friend.
episode012 11100 12 12 "Here Comes the Squirtle Squad"

"Zenigame-gundan Tōjō!" (ゼニガメぐんだんとうじょう!)
(The Zenigame Squad Appears!)
September 23, 1998

June 17, 1997
Ash, Misty and Brock fall victim to a series of pranks set up by a notorious gang called the Squirtle Squad. Later on things get worse and they're actually captured by the Squirtle Squad who it turns out have been tricked into working on behalf of Team Rocket by Meowth. While still being held captive by the Squirtle Squad, Pikachu is lying gravely injured in a cage. Ash begs the Squirtle squad to allow him to go and get a Super potion, their leader releases him and Ash runs off. Meanwhile Meowth is scheming that by the time Ash returns they'll already have made off with his Pikachu. Ash arrives at the shop where Jessie and James of Team Rocket are buying explosives to scare off the Squirtle Squad, aswell as some dental Floss. Ash walks into the shop for a super potion after and has lots of guns pulled on him. Officer Jenny steps in and assures the people in the shop that Ash isn't with Team Rocket. Jenny gives Ash a ride to the cave, but the bridge is out, so he enters it via a secret entrance. Ash uses Charmander's flame to light the way through the tunnel. Ash arrives back at the Cavern to find Misty and Brock have been untied. The Super Potion is administered to Pikachu just in time.

Shortly after Team Rocket attacks from above with their Hot Air Balloon and start throwing bombs at our heroes and the Squirtle Squad who flee into the cave. The Squirtle squad leader fell over and didn't make it to the cave in time, Ash dived on top of it to save it. As more bombs were dropped Ash tells Squirtle to run, but Squirtle picks Ash up and just about makes it to the cave whilst dodging bombs! Squirtle follows Ash's command and attacks the Team Rocket balloon, perforating it, rescuing Pikachu and sending Team Rocket blasting off once more. The blast of the explosives had caused a forest fire which threatened the whole town. Ash suggests to the Squirtle Squad that the combined power of their waterguns might put the fire out and save the town, sure enough it does. The town make the Squirtle Squad honorary firefighters, complete with ourfits. Ash and the gang set off on the road to Vermillion City only to find they have the Squirtle Squads leader in tow, and he wants to join Ash's team, which Ash happilly accepts!
episode013 11101 13 13 "Mystery at the Lighthouse"

"Masaki no Tōdai" (マサキのとうだい)
(Masaki's Lighthouse)
September 24, 1998

June 24, 1997
 When Ash was summarising the Pokemon he'd caught so far Misty and Brock commented that he hadn't technically "caught" most of them, Ash runs off and finds a beach and a beautiful sunset he couldn't care less about. He also finds a tiny Krabby he accidentally insults by calling it Shrimpy, Krabby attacks Ash's finger, then precedes to engage ASH himself in battle who fights it with a stick (wtf) and then manages to catch it in a ball! To his surprise the ball disappears out of his hand. Brock/Misty reappear and explain that a trainer can only have six Pokemon with them at once and that Krabby has most likely gone to Professor Oak's lab for safe keeping.

Ash, wanting to be sure that his new Krabby is safe and has reached Professor Oak wants to find a phone, at this point Pikachu spots a lighthouse shining in the distance and the gang head on over. When they arrive the lighthouse is dark and mysterious looking, the voice inside guides Ash to a videophone and he calls Professor Oak who ash suspects is eating his Krabby (he isn't, fortunately). It turns out that Gary has already caught 45 Pokemon, including a Krabby which absolutely dwarves Ash's one. Bill introduces himself, he appears to be a giant talking Kabuto... but Bill reveals he is actually a Pokemon researcher and his current getup is a result of an experiment gone wrong. With the help of Ash and friends Bill is freed from the costume. Bill then explains it was part of his research into ancient Pokemon.

Bill explains his main research at the minute is to try and find one special Pokemon, the largest of all... Dragonite, whom he says is one of a kind and that he has been communicating with it. At this point Dragonite begins to approach the lighthouse from the ocean. Meanwhile Team Rocket are scaling the cliff to the lighthouse with a plan to steal any rare Pokemon that Bill might have, at this point they notice Dragonite and start firing on it. The dragonite attacks the lighthouse and Team Rocket continue to attack the Pokemon before being belted away by Dragon Tail. Sadly the damage is done, and the Dragonite who had come to befriend Bill leaves, never to be seen again. Bill vows to remain at his lighthouse in the hopes that Dragonite will return some day and the heroes bid him farewell as they continue their journey.
episode014 11102 14 14 "Electric Shock Showdown"

"Dengeki Taiketsu! Kuchiba Jimu" (でんげきたいけつ! クチバジム)
(Electric Shock Showdown! Kuchiba Gym)
September 25, 1998

July 1, 1997
Ash and friends finally arrivev at the Vermillion City Gym, with Ash very enthusiastic to prove he is a strong enough trainer to defeat Lt. Surge but Pikachu and everyone else are exhausted so they head to the Pokemon Center first for a rest. At this point the Pokemon Center is full of badly injured Pokemon who have tried to take on Lt. Surge, another Pokemon is rushed in at which point Nurse Joy says its the 15th one this month. Seeing this makes Pikachu rather reluctant to want to take on the Vermillion Gym Leader.

Ash enters the gym to find several tough looking trainers, before the extremely huge Lt. Surge approaches and assumes Misty to be the challenger, calling her cute. She then points out that Ash is the challenger, Surge then refers to Ash as 'baby' and calls Pikachu a 'baby Pokemon' and it soon becomes apparent why when Surge's massive Raichu comes out of it's ball! Ash and Pikachu, driven by the insults and taunting from Surge and Raichu are intent on battling, Pikachu most of all, wanting to prove it can take on it's evolved form. The battle ensues and Pikachu is swiftly overpowered by Raichu's powerful electric attacks, but manages to get back up before swiftly being knocked down again and defeated. Team Rocket are watching through the window and scheming as usual, contemplating that if Pikachu is defeated then maybe they've wasted their time trying to steal him all along. Pikachu wakes up in the Pokemon Center, angry and upset about how he was overpowered by the Raichu. Nurse Joy overhears the conversation and offers Ash a Thunder Stone which would evolve it into a Raichu. Ash, faced with the decision to keep his pal exactly as he is, or evolve it for the sake of battle decides to give Pikachu the choice; Pikachu thinks for a moment then slaps the Thunder Stone to the ground, intent on beating the Raichu just the way it is! Pikachu and Ash vow to find a way to win. Brock points out something that Surge said, he evolved his Pikachu right away in order to get the strongest electric attacks quicker, meaning Raichu may have missed out on learning some moves that can only be learned in the Pikachu stage.... armed with this knowledge Ash and Pikachu return to the gym to face Lt. Surge once more.

The battle ensues and Ash and Pikachu take on a new strategy, although at the start of the battle it looks bad, Pikachu starts to use it's speed and agility attacks. Raichu is powerful but slow and is quickly outmanouvered, becoming dizzy as it tries to keep up with Pikachu's speed. Raichu completely runs out of electricity as he kept missing Pikachu, and Pikachu manages to defeat a tired Raichu with a quick attack and tail whip finisher. Ash and Pikachu claim the Thunder Badge in their proudest victory yet.
episode015 11103 15 15 "Battle Aboard the St. Anne"

"Santo Annu-gō no Tatakai!" (サントアンヌごうのたたかい!)
(The St. Anne Battle!)
September 28, 1998

July 8, 1997
 Our heroes are excited to head out to the St. Anne, a luxury cruise ship after Ash wins tickets for them to take a trip on it. For a brief period Ash trades his Butterfree for a Raticate but remembers all the time he and Butterfree (Caterpie, Metapod) spent together and feels bad about it (and so he should) and asks for his Butterfree back. Unfortunately it turns out that the entire cruise and competition was yet another Team Rocket scheme devised with the sole aim of relieving all of the 'lucky winners' of their Pokemon!

Meanwhile Jessie, James and Meowth are also onboard the St. Anne and James is tricked into buying a Magikarp by a devious salesman who promises it will make him rich. A short while later a powerful storm rocks the ship, in the panic to evacuate the ship Ash loses Butterfree's PokéBall and tries to locate it, likewise James loses the ball with Magikarp in and tries to find that. Ash and his friends as well as Jessie, James and Meowth are all knocked out and miss the evacuation lifeboats that takes the other passengers to safety. The episode closes with our heroes and Team Rocket on a sinking cruise ship.
episode016 11104 16 16 "Pokémon Shipwreck"

"Pokemon Hyōryūki" (ポケモンひょうりゅうき)
(Pokémon Adrift)
September 29, 1998

July 15, 1997
The episode opens with officer Jenny laying flowers at sea for Ash, Misty, Brock, Jessie & James suspecting they are now dead. Meanwhile our heroes and Team Rocket wake up, with Ash witnessing fish swimming outside the windows and quickly using his powers of deduction to realise that the ship has sunk.

Jessie in all her knowledge meanwhile commands Ekans to use his acid to make a hole in the ship so that they can escape, this resulting in the ship taking on water even quicker and them getting trapped in a corridor, drowning. Misty sends Goldeen to try and find a way out, but Goldeen finds Team Rocket and rescues them.Team Rocket attack, Ash and Brock get their Pokemon out to engage them but this inbalances the ship which is resting ominously on a narrow rock, above a huge chasm. Everyone decides that not dying is more important than the battle they were about to have and withdraws their Pokemon. Team Rocket and our heroes agree a temporary truce in order to escape together. Misty, who is relying on the knowledge of the model SS. Anne she had as a kid manages to guide everyone to the Engine room, where the hull is the thinnest, providing the best chance of escape. With the help of Onix, Bulbasaur and Charmander along the way they make it there (just about!) and Charmander burns a hole in the hull. Everyone ties themselvevs to a water Pokemon and makes their escape... errr except Team Rocket who don't have any and are left behind. When James who is laughing maniacally reveals his secret weapon and method of escape; the Magikarp he bought. His plan unfortunately didn't go too well, with Magikarp completely unable to help them. The St. Anne then takes on more water and sinks deeper still. Ash, Misty and Brock are sat on a raft wondering where Team Rocket are, Ash sends Pidgeotto to scout and find out which direction has the nearest land, he finds Jessie, James and Meowth (and Magikarp) floating in the sea. Just as they are about to give Team Rocket a traditional sea burial it turns out they're actually still alive. Both groups spend the night on a raft adrift at sea, with hunger starting to set in. Crazed with hunger Meowth tries to take a bite out of Magikarp and promptly breaks his teeth. James, angry that his Magikarp is good for nothing, not even eating kicks Magikarp off the raft, prompting it to evolve into a Gyarados, a very angry Gyarados based on the way he treated it.

The group tries to escape with Gyarados hot on their heels, with three of Misty's best water Pokemon pulling the raft and everyones combined rowing effort. Sadly to no avail, as Gyarados summons numerous other Gyarados and hits the group with a Dragon rage attack, throwing everyone violently into the distance.
episode017 11105 17 17 "Island of the Giant Pokémon"

"Kyodai Pokemon no Shima!?" (きょだいポケモンのしま!?)
(Island of the Gigantic Pokémon!?)
September 30, 1998

July 22, 1997
Following the Dragon Rage attack they were hit by at the end of last episode Ash, Misty and Brock find themselves regaining consciousness on a beach, with Ash alarmed to find no sign of Pikachu and that he only has two of his Pokemon with him, meanwhile elsewhere on the same Island Jessie & James are gently woken by a vicious attack from a Krabby. It turns out that Team Rockets Pokemon, Meowth and Ash's missing Pokemon are also all together elsewhere on the Island. But thats not where the trouble ends, the Island is inhabited by Giant Pokemon!

After losing the trust of all the other Pokemon (including fellow TR Pokemon Ekans & Koffing) Meowth is tied up while the rest of them eat, when a giant Rhydon starts to approach. All the Pokemon start running and leave Meowth tied up, Pikachu reluctantly goes back and frees him. The lost Pokemon stick together but begin to get upset at the thought of their masters not returning. The next day the sun is shining and all groups leave cover to find each other, once more encountering numerous giant Pokémon and being pursued around the Island, eventually by chance all finding each other and eventually reuniting on a runaway rollercoaster cart!

After inadvertantly destroying all of the giant Pokemon, the gang realise that the Pokemon are mechanical, and it turns out to have been a Giant Pokemon Theme Park, owned by Giovanni and Team Rocket. Our heroes escape the theme park and arrive at the beautiful beaches of Porta Vista.

Note: Subtitles are used in the episode for the scenes when the Pokemon are talking to each other about how to find their trainers. This episode is to this day unique in that sense.
episode018 11106 18 18 "Beauty and the Beach"

"Aopuruko no Kyūjitsu" (アオプルコのきゅうじつ)
(Holiday at Aopulco)
June 24, 2000

July 29, 1997
Ash and Brock are start the episode by playing in the sea before taking a moment to admire Misty and point out how weird it is to see her "looking like a girl". They then take a Boat Trip on a boat they saw Brock on, who Ash assumed had borrowed it. They take the boat for a spin and crash into a Team Rocket Gyarados themed sub, sending them out of control and crashing into the pier. With the Boat and the pier badly damaged the group are approached by an angry old man called Moe who wants them to pay for the damage.

Meanwhile Jessie, James and Meowth are washed up on a restaurant's private beach area and are asked to leave by the restaurant owner, but they instead offer to work for her despite the restaurant owner describing herself as "Brutal", apt as her name is Brutella. It turns out that Ash, Misty and Brock are working to promote a rival restaurant to the one Jessie and James work for and initially Team Rocket are winning the business, until Ash gets all his Pokemon involved to help advertise the old mans restaurant, handing out flyers etc. Team Rocket set out to sabotage our heroes efforts, quickly damaging the number of customers it takes. Ash and the gang, their Pokemon and Moe sit in his restaurant and reflect on what could've gone wrong.

Brutella and Team Rocket turn up to taunt Moe, with Brutella reminding Moe that he owes her money and that she wants it by tomorrow or she's taking his boat. Moe pleads that she take anything but the boat, as he has always dreamed of cruising around the world in it before he dies. Ash convinces Moe not to give up on his dreams and vows with his friends and Pokemon to help get the money by tomorrow. Professor Oak turns up with Ash's mom in tow and suggests they promote the restaurant at the annual Porta Vista Beach Beauty and Pokemon costume contest which is due to happen the following day.

The gang set out on promoting it to the revellers at the contest. Things are looking really good and Brutella watches on angrily as Moe looks set to make enough money to keep his boat. Meanwhile Brock serves as an announcer for the Pokemon and Beauty contest and Misty enters, with Squirtle and Starmie dressed up as extra terrestrials. The Team Rocket entry is interrupted by Gary Oak who turns up with six beautiful fans in tow all entering the beauty competition. Brutella fixes up Team Rocket's Gyarados sub, making it amphibious on the proviso that they use it to destroy Moe's restaurant which they set about to do. Ash calms the crowds by reassuring them its not a real Gyarados which just rose from the ocean and sends their heatseeking missle back at them, sending Team Rocket packing - all while being ridiculed by Gary who wasn't forthcoming in actually helping the situation himself.

Moe paid his debt and sets off on fulfilling his dream of cruising around the world. Moe sails off into the distance, Ash promises to make his mom proud and the trio set off on their journey once more. Note: This episode has only been shown on a ONCE in English and that was heavily edited. Click here to see why.
episode019 11107 19 19 "Tentacool & Tentacruel"

"Menokurage Dokukurage" (メノクラゲドククラゲ)
(Menokurage, Dokukurage)
October 1, 1998

August 5, 1997
Ash and friends are running late as always and miss the boat they were meant to be on from Porta Vista, while sat around waiting for the next one they see an injured Horsea who Misty is about to capture when there is a huge explosion only to discover that it was caused by a huge number of Tentacool attacking a Ship and paralyzing the sailors. The distraction means Misty leaves the injured Horsea and dispatches her water Pokemon to help rescue the people who had been on the ship. One of the sailors they rescue is insistant on informing "the boss" what has happened. The boss is an unpleasant character called Nastina who thanks the heroes for their help and offers them a stay at her hotel, she advises them that she's building a massive hotel resort - to do this she needs to destroy the reefs. Nastina asks the trio to exterminate the Tentacool and offers to pay them well with luxury feasts, 1 million dollars and more but there'd be a lot of murdering to do first. Misty strongly objects and walks out.

Misty must have rescued the Horsea behind the scenes as it's then seen in a paddling pool with Pikachu and Brock notes that the Super Potion they gave it is working. Nastina turns up in a tank offering a million dollars to whoever exterminates the Tentacool, just as Jessie and James show up. Nastina hires Team Rocket to exterminate the Tentacool and they board a boat, setting a course for the construction site of Nastina's new resort with a plan to pour Tentacool stun source in the water, catch them all and sell them at market (unknowing that they aren't really edible). They quickly encounter 10,000 Tentacool who fire on the ship, knocking TR's barrell of substance onto one of the Tentacool to crazy effect.... it becomes a giant Tentacruel and begins to attack the resort. Nastina and her crew start firing at Tentacruel, but the shells simply bounce off him - meanwhile Tentacool's start to take over the Island, and the giant Tentacruel too begins its approach bringing with it a giant tidal wave.

Tentacruel lays waste to Nastina's resort entirely and the group realise what Horsea had earlier been trying to communicate to them. Tentacruel captures Meowth and uses his speech ability to communicate what they are doing, telling people that they are attacking and destroying their homes and cities exactly the way their own homes have been devastated by the construction work. Horsea pleads with Tentacruel to stop the destruction and begins to argue with it, Tentacruel hits Horsea hard and Ash's Pidgeotto rescues it just in time. Ash, Misty and Brock send ALL of their Pokemon to battle the Tentacruel and Tentacool sending many of them back to the sea but Tentacruel is strong and begins to overwhelm the much smaller Pokemon. Pikachu tries to reason with Tentacruel where Horsea failed, Misty appears atop a building and continues to plead with Tentacruel stating that the humans understand they have hurt them, and that they won't destroy their homes anymore and they are sorry. Tentacruel warns everyone that if this happens again they will not stop, discards Meowth and begins to return to the sea. Nastina emerges from under a pile of rocks and starts to fire on Tentacruel, who promptly knocks her into the sunset and submerges beneath the waves.

A short while later Nastina lands on someone who is building the frame of a new building, it turns out to be Brutella, the restaurant owner from the previous episode who is infact Nastina's cousin!

episode020 11108 20 20 "The Ghost of Maiden's Peak"

"Yūrei Pokemon to Natsumatsuri" (ゆうれいポケモンとなつまつり)
(Ghost Pokémon and the Summer Festival)
October 2, 1998

August 12, 1997
Ash and friends finally manage to catch a boat from whats left of Porta Vista, finally arriving in the port city of Maiden's Peak where they attend the Summer's End Festival. Team Rocket as usual aren't far behind and are up to their usual schemes. However something strange is afoot when both Brock and James fall for a beautiful girl that they keep seeing visions of near the Sea. It's revealed later on that the beautiful girl they are seeing is the legendary 'Ghost of Maidens Peak', a young woman whose lover went off to fight in an ancient war, she vowed to wait for him to return as he sailed off into the sunset, vowing never to move from the clifftop, and she didn't... eventually she turned to stone still atop the cliff.

Brock and James are entranced by their visions of the maiden. An old woman suggests that the use of anti ghost stickers might help Brock and James, but that it'll come at a price. She sells the gang a lot of seemingly worthless anti ghost stickers and makes a quick buck. The ghost of the Maiden arrives with a gust, promptly blowing the stickers away and taking James and Brock away. Jessie interrupts the maiden from taking them, and the Maiden doesn't take it very well. Sending a scary illusion of skulls at Ash and the gang before Ash's Pokedex reveals it as a Gastly. Gastly reveals that not only is he the ghost of Maiden's peak but he was also the old woman who sold them the stickers. Everyone tries to battle the Gastly, whom I might add has an exceptional grasp of the English language. Everyone is defeated, and Misty turns up wielding a cross, some garlic etc.

Luckily the festival ends and the sun begins to rise, repelling Gastly who tells them not to forget the ghost of the Maiden and promises to return next festival. Ash and his friends participate in the festival of Summer's End tradition of sending out little boats with laterns on to guide the spirits of lost sailors home. Gastly and the Maiden's real ghost communicate and basically say see you same time next year, she thanks Gastly for keeping her legend alive. Gastly promises that if he as a Ghost Pokemon should ever encounter her lover, he will remind him that his Maiden is waiting. Ash and his friends enjoy whats left of the festivities.
episode021 11109 21 21 "Bye, Bye Butterfree"

"Bai Bai Batafurī" (バイバイバタフリー)
(Bye Bye Butterfree)
October 5, 1998

August 19, 1997
As Ash and his group continue their journey to Saffron City they see a large number of Butterfree flying above the sea. Brock then tells Ash and Misty that its the mating season for the Butterfree, Ash releases his Butterfree so it can go and find a mate. It returns to their Hot air balloon and doesn't seem particularly bothered about finding a mate, that is until he sees a unique looking pink Butterfree... Ash's Butterfree despite all his best moves, and his new scarf it just couldn't get this female Butterfrees interest and he left beaten and dejected.

Team Rocket show up shortly after as they've decided that a massive load of Butterfree would be a great gift for the boss. They approach the flock in a helicopter with a giant net attached to it and start capturing massive amounts of the Butterfree. With no realistic chance of anyone in a Hot Air Balloon catching a helicopter it's all up to Ash's Butterfree who is about the only one not trapped in a net at this point. Ash's Butterfree sees the pink butterfree trapped in it's net and starts to tackle the net but to no avail, it tries stun spore on the chopper also to no effect and Team Rocket get away with Ash's Butterfree hot on their tail.

Ash, Misty and Brock can't keep up in the Hot Air Balloon but follow in the direction that TR and Butterfree left in. Eventually they find Ash's butterfree who leads them to the compound where Team Rocket are holding the 100 stolen Butterfree. Ash's Butterfree sees the Pink butterfree he loves trapped in the net and with his most powerful tackle manages to break it. All the Butterfree flee except Ash's one and the Pink one who is now starting to like him back!

Team Rocket set off to try to recapture all the Butterfree again, this time Butterfree with Pikachu on his back head straight at their chopper, Pikachu jumps on and completely destroys it with a thundershock, Team Rocket are defeated once more. The Butterfree mating season goes ahead as planned, with the Pink Butterfree doing the courtship dance for Ash's Butterfree! It's only now that Ash and the gang realise that Butterfree will be leaving to start his family across the ocean. After a tearful goodbye Butterfree and his new mate head off into the sunset, while Ash reminisces about their time together.
episode022 11110 22 22 "Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

"Kēshii! Chōnōryoku Taiketsu!" (ケーシィ! ちょうのうりょくたいけつ!)
(Casey! Psychic Showdown!)
October 6, 1998

August 26, 1997
Ash and his friends have arrived in Saffron City and Ash makes no secret about the fact he's there to challenge the leader of the Saffron City Gym. As he makes haste for the gym he bumps into a mysterious man who warns him not to go in. Ash enters the gym to find that it's a psychic training centre as well as a Pokemon gym and see's many people trying to bend spoons with the power of their minds. Ash demands an official match, Sabrina accepts but states that if she wins that they have to be her friends and stay to play with her. The two agree to a one on one all out match with Sabrina choosing Abra and Ash choosing Pikachu. After toying with Ash and Pikachu a little Sabrina's Abra evolves into Kadabra, turns Pikachu's thunder attack against him then uses its psychic powers to make Pikachu dance for it, before continuing to hammer a defenceless Pikachu with psychic attacks.

Ash, Misty, Brock and Pikachu find themselves in a strange abandoned town and try to find someone to find out where they are. Just as they realise they are infact in a dolls house Sabrina takes the roof off and tries to grab them. Brock points out that Sabrina must have shrunk them using telekenisis. Just as it looks like Ash and the Gang are going to be crushed by a toy ball the mysterious guy who warned them not to go there teleports in using his own psychic power and teleports them out just in time.

He then warns Ash and gang they should leave Saffron City and never come back, Ash sees that this guy has psychic abilities and begs him for help. After being initially rather adverse to the idea of helping, the mysterious man advises Ash to go after a ghost Pokemon in Lavender Town as it's the only type that can battle a Psychic type and then he teleports, appearing in a tree behind the gang where he then watches them and says to himself "With some luck that kid may be the one who can rescue Sabrina." The journey to Lavender Town begins.
episode023 11111 23 23 "The Tower of Terror"

"Pokemon Tawā de Getto da ze!" (ポケモンタワーでゲットだぜ!)
(Got It at the Pokémon Tower!)
October 7, 1998

September 2, 1997
Team Rocket got wind of where Ash and his friends were headed and beat them to the Haunted Tower in Lavender Town in order to set a trap for them, however they were promptly scared away by the spooky events that happened inside the tower. Ash and the gang arrive at the tower shortly after, while Ash and Pikachu enter the Tower, Misty and Brock remain outside as they're too afraid to enter.

Ash and Pikachu befall many scary pranks at the hands of a trio of ghost Pokémon; Gengar, Haunter and Gastly. I say pranks loosely, one of them involved them being crushed by a huge falling Chanedelier so I'm not sure if that qualifies as attempted murder or a prank. Nonetheless Haunter then turns Ash and Pikachu into ghosts and they fly together and have some fun, they then return to the room where his body is to find Brock and Misty crying at the sight of Ash and Pikachu's lifeless bodies. Ash asks Haunter to please bring him and Pikachu back so Brock and Misty won't be upset, which he does. Haunter decides to follow Ash and become his friend and Pokémon, for now.
episode024 11112 24 24 "Haunter vs. Kadabra"

"Gōsuto Tai Esupā!" (ゴーストVSエスパー!)
(Ghost vs. Esper!)
October 8, 1998

September 9, 1997
Despite the previous warnings Ash and friends arrive back at Saffron City to face Sabrina once more. Both Ash and Haunter sound and look extremely confident and the challenge to Sabrina is issued, she accepts on the same terms as she did previously and sends out Kadabra. Ash chooses Haunter but it's nowhere to be seen... Ash tells Pikachu then Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur respectively to take his place in battle none of which seems enthusiastic.

Ash tries to make a run for it and Sabrina locks down the gym using her psychic powers, then turns Ash and Misty into dolls. Just as Ash and his Pokemon are about to meet the same fate the mysterious man teleports in and rescues them (minus Brock and Misty who are still dolls). Ash talks to the man and learns more about Sabrina and how she became the way she is, and how she split into two people; the mean and powerful Pokémon Trainer and the lonely little girl who just wants to make friends is represented by the doll Sabrina holds. We learn that the mysterious man is infact Sabrina's father.

Ash sets off to find Haunter and bumps into Team Rocket who are as usual out to steal Pikachu but instead find themselves hanging on to a tall building, Haunter makes Jessie laugh and she in turn releases her grip. All of them fall to the ground, right next to Ash. Haunter and Ash are reunited and Ash begs Haunter to help him defeat Sabrina and save his friends, Haunter agrees. Meanwhile the doll forms of Brock and Misty are back in the toy box, and meet Sabrina's mother who has also been turned into a doll.

Just as Sabrina is about to start playing with her new toys Ash returns, and again Haunter appears to be nowhere in sight. Pikachu volunteers to fight because he doesn't want Ash to become a doll, and faces Kadabra once more. This time managing to clip Kadabra with a thundershock before it could teleport, but it just uses recover and continues. At this point Haunter appears and starts playing tricks on Sabrina, one of which included a bomb. Sabrina smiles and starts laughing with Haunter, due to Telekensis her Kadabra is rolling on the floor laughing and unable to battle, Sabrina then returns her mother, Brock and Misty to their human forms. Sabrina's father declares Kadabra unable to battle and awards Ash with the Marsh Badge. Our heroes continue their journey, setting a course for Celadon City.
episode025 11113 25 25 "Primeape Goes Bananas"

"Okoranai de ne Okorizaru!" (おこらないでねオコリザル!)
(Don't Get Angry, Okorizaru!)
October 9, 1998

September 16, 1997
While on the route to Celadon City Ash and his friends encounter a rather mischevious Mankey. This Mankey starts chasing Ash and then steals his cap, Ash tries his best to retrieve it but to no avail. Turns out Ash had to send in some serious tokens to win that official Pokémon League cap. Team Rocket catch up to the group and try to steal Pikachu, when they encounter Mankey, James kicks it away and while they are doing their Team Rocket intro a very angry Mankey evolves into Primeape behind them.

The newly evolved Primeape has not forgotten what James did to it and stomps around angrily, Team Rocket choose to ignore it and continue trying to steal Pikachu. At this point Primeape launches Jessie into a distant rock head first, Jessie and James turn their Pokemon on Primeape and a commotion ensues. Ash and the gang use this as an oppurtunity to try and run away when Pikachu spots Ash's cap and tries to grab it, Primeape beats him there and puts the cap back on. Pikachu hits him with a powerful thundershock which makes him even angrier. Brock theorises that Primeape just wants a bit of attention and thats why he stole the cap, Brock goes over to befriend him and Primeape disproves the theory by beating him up and throwing him into the distance.

Primeape begins it's thrash attack and chases Ash, Misty and Pikachu relentlessly. Team Rocket also give chase, Misty and Ash split up to try and lose Primeape and it continues after Ash and Pikachu. Ash and Pikachu, along with Team Rocket fall into a ditch dug by TR themselves, after Pikachu electrocutes everyone including Ash, Primeape jumps into the hole with them all. Ash remembers advice Professor Oak gave him about not being able to become a Pokémon master without more Pokémon. Ash challenges Primeape, first hitting him with a water gun attack from Squirtle, then a razor leaf from Bulbasaur followed by a flamethrower from Charmander. Primeape starts attacking Charmander badly and Charmander learns rage, one of it's most powerful attacks, Charmander then uses rage on Primeape, but not before Pikachu runs in and saves Ash's cap. Ash then captures a weakened Primeape!

Team Rocket rear their heads from their hole and ask where Primeape is, Ash send Primeape into the hole with them and he gives them a good thrashing, shortly before giving Ash a black eye. Over the ridge Pikachu spots Celadon City in the distance!
episode026 11114 26 26 "Pokémon Scent-sation!"

"Erika to Kusaihana" (エリカとクサイハナ)
(Erika and Kusaihana)
October 12, 1998

September 23, 1997
Upon arriving at Celadon City, Brock instantly decides he's going to like it there after he spots a number of beautiful girls. Ash wants to head straight to the gym but Brock wants to check out girls and Misty wants to buy perfume. After causing great offence in a perfume store Ash is asked to leave and is eventually ejected.

Ash continues to the Celadon City Gym where he is told he can't enter because of what he said about perfume, and it turns out the gym is where the perfume is manufactured! In the meantime Team Rocket are breaking into the back of the gym in order to find the secret formula they use to make their perfume, in yet another scheme to become rich. They bump into a Gloom on the way who was completely immune when Koffing hit it with Poison gas, Gloom releases some stinky gas of its own and defeats Team Rocket who are then promptly kicked out by gym staff and hung from a tree. Then Ash finds them 'hanging out' outside. Team Rocket want Ash to help them out of the tree, he's reluctant but they appeal to him by saying they can get him into the gym to challenge the gym leader. They all dress up, Ash posing as a little girl called Ashley and Jessie and James posing as his parents. Ash registers while Team Rocket run off to try and again steal the secret perfume formula.

"Ashley" is introduced to Erika and her class who are all learning about Perfume. Brock, Pikachu and Misty all happen to be in the class too. Erika tells the class the tale of how she met Gloom, and how it rescued her from a Grimer when she was a little girl. Pikachu shocks Ash and his disguise falls off, Ash challenges Erika who is duty bound to accept.

A three on three battle commences with Ash choosing Bulbasaur and Erika sending out Tangela who quickly defeats Bulbasaur with stun spore. Ash sends out Charmander next who promptly defeats Erika's Weepinbel but is then defeated by Gloom. Pikachu volunteers to face Gloom next but then Team Rocket interrupt the battle, setting off bombs throughout the gym and stealing the secret perfume formula before blasting off (again). With the gym on fire an evacuation effort begins with all the trainers trying to rescue the Pokémon.

Ash, Misty and Brocks Pokemon help to try and fight the fire, Erika runs out and says she can't find Gloom anywhere, Ash reacts by running into the flames (don't try this at home) and going to find Gloom. Gloom releases it's vile scent preventing Ash from getting near, Ash holds his breath, and approaches Gloom - Gloom stops releasing the horrible smell when he see's Ash just wants to help. Ash grabs Gloom and runs out of the burning building getting it to safety. Erika presents Ash with the Rainbow badge for saving her Gloom. Erika reveals that the 'secret formula' Team Rocket stole was infact just a vial of essence of Gloom, which by the way, stinks.
episode027 11115 27 27 "Hypno's Naptime"

"Surīpā to Pokemon Gaeri!?" (スリーパーとポケモンがえり!?)
(Sleeper and Pokémon Hypnotism!?)
October 13, 1998

September 30, 1997
While pounding the pavements of Hop Hop Hop Town trying to work out where they are Ash is grabbed by a woman who is overjoyed to see "her Arnold", mistaking him for her missing son. The woman then explains to Ash, Misty and Brock that many children have gone missing recently, and points out all the missing posters nearby.

Ash feels sorry for the woman imagining how his own mother would feel if he was missing. Detective Ash Ketchum steps up to try and help the towns Officer Jenny find out what happened to the kids, they begin asking questions in the Pokemon Center but no one seems to know anything. It turns out that the Pokemon Center is full of sleeping/overtired Pokemon. Officer Jenny picks up strong readings on a Sleep Wave detector and Pikachu is put to sleep, Officer Jenny, Ash and friends deduct that the sleep waves and missing children may be connected. They track back the sleep waves to the top of a tall building and head up to investigate. There they find a rooftop mansion along with a terraced garden, and appear to have found the source of the sleep waves. Ash and Brock burst in to find some sort of event taking place, and a Drowzee and Hypno sat together on a table in the middle of it.

It turns out that the Hypno is the one responsible for the sleep waves, and that he evolved from Drowzee 3 days prior, exactly when the kids started going missing. The Pokémon Lovers club has a lot of members that struggle to sleep at night and suffer insomnia, they had been using Hypno's powers to help them get a good nights sleep. And it turns out that the Pokemon across the town being put to sleep is a side effect of Hypno's powers being used in this way. Misty falls under this side affect hynosis and thinks she's a Seel, she runs out of the building, into a park and sits by the side of a lake. Everyone follows her and there they find not just Misty but all the missing children from the town, who also think they're Pokemon!

The Pokemon Lovers Society upon realising what's happened use Drowzees Dream Waves to restore Misty to normal. Team Rocket who have also followed the sleep waves attack on the rooftop and are fended off by Ash's Pidgeotto. Then Ash and friends set out with Drowzee to return all the kids to normal before heading to the Pokemon Center to wake up all the sleeping Pokemon. One Pokémon however still seems to be having trouble; a Psyduck who Misty inadvertantly manages to catch despite really not wanting to.
episode028 11116 28 28 "Pokémon Fashion Flash"

"Rokon! Burīdā Taiketsu!" (ロコン! ブリーダーたいけつ!)
(Rokon! Breeder Showdown!)
October 14, 1998

October 7, 1997
After arriving in Scissor Street, Ash and Misty are a bit bemused as to why they're there, Brock is looking for something but doesn't answer - Misty realises that Scissor Street is also known as Breeder Street, and it's revealed that Brock wanted to come here to see the latest Breeder stuff!

Not long after arriving they encounter a Pokemon beauty salon called "Salon Roque", a name which sounds a little too familiar to them all. Misty is about to join the queue as Brock finally finds the place he's been looking for, it's a comparatively non descript storefront with no queue outside.

Inside they find a really cute looking Pokemon called Vulpix, Misty takes it upon herself to pet it and is promptly annihilated by a flame attack. Brock asks Suzie the Salon owner if he can become her student and explains to Ash that Suzie has been awarded the trophy for breeding excellence for three consecutive years at the World Pokemon Breeders contest, amongst other accolades.

It seems that "Salon Roque" is taking a lot of custom away from Suzie's salon, with Roque being about tacky looking fashions and Suzie's place being about natural stuff and inner Beauty. Suzie starts to doubt her own methods, and Brock and Ash convince her to keep going, coming up with an idea to help promote Suzie's salon - she begins to give lectures on Pokemon care and with the right promotion quickly gets all her customers back from "Salon Roque". Salon Roque's management soon discover that their massive queues have gone and only one customer remains; Misty and her Psyduck. Meowth inadvertantly reveals that the owners of Salon Roque are Team Rocket, who hold Misty hostage threatening to paint her face like Frankenstein, Psyduck is nowhere to be seen and had actually gone back to Suzie's to tell Ash/Brock about the situation who promptly come running.

Meowth reveals that the whole Salon idea was just a plan to scam money out of trainers with ridiculous PokéFashion's and if any rare Pokemon come in they were just going to steal them. Ash and Brock proceed to battle Team Rocket but lose, Suzie and her Vulpix step in and defeat Meowth, Ekans and Koffing convincingly, Team Rocket blast off again. The massive group of trainers who had been watching the whole time realised how shallow they'd been, Suzies belief in what she does is restored and she decides she needs to travel and find out more about Pokemon breeding; Vulpix takes a liking to Brock and Suzie asks Brock to take care of her as his own Pokemon.

With a new friend, a new Pokemon, and a quick laugh at Misty's very fashionable makeup our heroes say Goodbye to Suzie, and Team Rocket are run out of town by their angry former customers!

episode029 11117 29 29 "The Punchy Pokémon"

"Kakutō Pokemon! Dai Batoru!" (かくとうポケモン! だいバトル!)
(Fighting Pokémon! Huge Battle!)
October 15, 1998

October 14, 1997
Ash and his friends happen upon a Hitmonchan in the road which appears to be wild. Ash tries to convince Pikachu to battle Hitmonchan, Pikachu is initially not enthused but then Ash gives him boxing tips and the "battle" begins, Hitmonchan is toying with Pikachu until Pikachu hits Hitmonchan with "the Rocket punch", which bruises Hitmonchans cheek a little and annoys it. Hitmonchan turns out not to be wild,, and his trainer turns up and orders Hitmonchan to a) not drop his guard and b) knock that little pipsqueak out.

After the battle, a girl called Rebecca jumps from behind a tree and begs Hitmonchans trainer to come home (its her father), but it's clear that he isn't going to go home until he wins the P1 Grand Prix. He tells the group and his daughter that he'll be in the gym taking on challengers, and points out which direction the gyms in before running off. The group get introduced to Rebecca who asks them to defeat her fathers Hitmonchan, they arrive at the Fighting Spirit Gym that her father runs and Rebecca explains about the P1 Grand Prix fighting Pokemon Tournament, she says that if her fathers Hitmonchan is defeated he might see sense and go home.

Brock volunteers Ash and Primeape to join the tournament, and himself decides he'll enter with Geodude. Meanwhile Team Rocket are also eyeing the P-1 Championship belt and prize money, but they don't have any fighting Pokemon so decide to 'borrow' a passing Hitmonlee after taking its trainer hostage.

The Pokemon Numberone Grandprix begins, Rebeccas father Anthony and his Hitmonchan enter, as do Jessie, James and Hitmonlee under the guise of 'Giant' and of course Ash, Brock and a whole host of other competititors. The first battle opens with Ash's Primeape taking on Machop, it looks initially like Primeape is in for a beating but after Machop throws Primeape with a Seismic toss and Ash saving it from hitting the deck, it has a new found will to fight, and to listen to Ash - coming back fighting and defeating Machop with a Mega kick. Brock then takes on Hitmonlee with his Geodude, the battle is looking bad and Anthony advises Brock to throw in the towel, which he does, forfeitting the match.

Anthony, Ash and Team Rocket still in their disguise fight their way through various stages of the tournament until Anthony and his Hitmonchan face Team Rocket and their Hitmonlee in an epic battle. Team Rocket not being ones to fight fair stick Hitmonchan to the ground with glue giving Hitmonlee the edge to win, Rebecca jumps in the way of Hitmonlee's final kick to save Hitmonchan and Anthony jumps in front of her, forfetting the match. Leaving Ash and Primeape to take on Hitmonlee and Team Rocket in the final. After the battle starts Primeape is taking a lot of hits but manages to get close to Hitmonlee and deliver a flurry back, meanwhile Pikachu spots Meowth messing with the ring and tries to tell Ash, who doesn't listen. Pikachu goes under the ring to investigate and stops Team Rockets plan to shock Primeape, with the plan foiled Primeape defeats Hitmonlee with a Seismic Toss and becomes the P-1 Champion by knockout!

Anthony tells Ash that Primeape has a great natural fighting ability and asks if he can train him to become a real P-1 Champion (even though he already is). Ash agrees and lets Anthony, who has now promised to spend more time with his family train Primeape. Ash and friends say goodbye to Rebecca, Anthony and Primeape and continue on their journey.

episode030 11118 30 30 "Sparks Fly for Magnemite"

"Koiru wa Denki Nezumi no Yume o Miru ka!?" (コイルはでんきネズミのユメをみるか!?)
(Do Coil Dream of Electric Mice!?)
October 16, 1998

October 21, 1997
Ash, Misty and Brock arrive in the very industrial and aptly named Gringy City, where everything is dark and miserable and theres no one around. Pikachu immediately starts to look sick and collapses, Ash grabs him and is electrocuted, a Magnemite watches on from the Shadow's.

Ash in his pink rubber gloves rushes Pikachu to the Pokemon Center, and on arrival to the gringiest Pokemon Center they ever saw, they are little to their own knowledge being watched from afar by Team Rocket, who themselves are choking on the stench. Meowth instructs Jessie and James to get their suits on and go through the Sewer Pipes to the Pokemon Center.

On arrival to the Pokemon Center it seems that even the Nurse Joy there isn't particularly helpful compared to her cousins from other cities. To make matters worse the generator is taken offline by a lot of Grimer, taking away power from the Pokemon in intensive care at the Pokemon center, plus of course the Air Supply to Jessie and James. Ash, Misty and Brock set off to find out whats wrong and get the power back on, their first stop being to officer Jenny who doesn't know anymore than they do, but directs them to the power plant. Pikachu, despite being sick follows them.

Meanwhile Jessie and James narrowly avoid suffocating in their suits. Ash, Misty, Brock and a Pikachu who has seen better days enter the dark corridors of the seemingly deserted power plant, but it feels as though they're being followed. Something appears from the darkness, fortunately it's only a Magnemite who is more concerned with accosting Pikachu than doing anything particularly evil. Magnemite hovers around Pikachu a while longer before making a swift exit, seconds later a big group of Grimer drop from the ceiling and it becomes apparent why Magnemite fled.

Misty causes great offence to the Grimer group as well as the giant Muk that accompanies them and Muk orders that the Grimer pursue the group, a chase ensues around the dark corridors! Running into (literally) the factory workers who had left their control room to see what was up. They make it safely to the control room and Ash begins questioning whats going on, finding out that Grimer are blocking the water intake and that theres too many so they can't get the power back on. The grimer that were chasing them finally catch up and break into the control room. Apparently Pikachu is the only one who can fight all the grimer despite being sick (he forgot his other Pokemon?), Pikachu gives it his best shot but fails, it looks bad and then an army of Magnemite and a Magneton who are all for some reason fans of Pikachu come flying through the ceiling and chase the Grimers away, even clearing the water intake and getting the plant back online! Power is restored to the city.

But the Muk stays behind and Pikachu and it's Magnemite admirer manage to defeat it between them. Ash then captures it, and much to his discontent finds that Muk's aroma can still be smelt when he is outside of the Pokeball. Pikachu is no longer sick, and the power station guys advise that he didn't have a cold, he just felt ill because it's body had built up too much electricity that it's body had become magnetised, hence why the Magnemite liked it so much.

Team Rocket emerge from the filthy water in their Gyarados sub wielding a giant magnet to try and take advantage of Pikachu's not longer valid magnetised state. Unfortunately for them a massive amount of magnemite stuck to their magnet and sunk their sub, sending them.... sinking off... again? Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny of Gringy City vow to clean the place up and bring the city back to life. Professor Oak disdainfully recieves Ash's Muk.
episode031 11119 31 31 "Dig Those Diglett!"

"Diguda ga Ippai!" (ディグダがいっぱい!)
(Full of Digda!)
October 19, 1998

October 28, 1997
It's now been months since Ash began his journey from Pallet, and the gang decide to head for the Fuschia Gym next, but not being surrounded by mountains not knowing entirely where they're going they get lost and start walking anyway. They hear an explosion in the distance and they run over to it to investigate. Team Rocket's dinner was also interrupted by the blast so they head over to investigate too. Ash and friends find a massive convoy of construction vehicles, but they're all piling up and getting destroyed.

As Ash and his friends watch on, a Diglett emerges and communicates with Pikachu while Meowth watches on. The construction sites foreman, clearly stressed out reveals that the Diglett are stopping him from getting the Damm built, by disrupting his supply convoys. The foreman then says they are recruiting Pokemon trainers to help fight off the Diglett, as Gary arrives with a whole lot of other Pokemon trainers who quickly starts insulting Ash. Brock takes a liking to Gary's fanclub. Gary vows to the site foreman to get rid of the Diglett and sets off. Jessie and James hear about the luxury holiday they could win for fighting off the Diglett and decide to go for it themselves.

The site foreman addresses the big group of Pokemon trainers, thanking them for coming to help him fight off the Diglett. Ash meanwhile is wallowing in self pity following Gary's abuse earlier on. Team Rocket are watching them all from afar and scheming, suddenly the Diglett attack the trainers, Gary throws a Pokéball to sort it out but the Pokémon fails to come out, Gary tries his next Pokémon which also doesn't come out, he and the other trainers all start throwing Pokéballs, no Pokemon is willing to fight the Diglett. The Diglett all return the Pokéballs to their trainers.

It turns out that the Pokémon didn't want to fight the Diglett, Pikachu, who spoke to one of them earlier confirms this theory. Gary fires off one final round of digs and insults to Ash before he and his fan club depart, along with the other trainers. Ash, Misty and Brock take advantage of a hotspring, still troubled by the fact that the Pokemon wouldn't fight them. Team Rocket's Ekans and Koffing evolve into Arbok and Weezing respectively. Some Diglett visit the hotspring, Pikachu and the gang follow them and realise that this place is the home of the Diglett and Dugtrio, Ash and his friends realise that the construction work is disrupting and destroying their homes. The construction sites foreman overhears and realises the damage it would cause to their environment if the Damm was built, he decides not to build the Damm.

Team Rocket appear in a Tree above them and attack with their newly evolved Pokemon, Arbok uses a dig attack to go underground and Weezing follows, they both get beaten up by the Diglett who then blast Team Rocket off and destroying the damm in the process. With the Digletts home now safe, the damm construction cancelled and Fuschia Gym not far away our heroes continue onto their next adventure.
episode032 11120 32 32 "The Ninja-Poké Showdown"

"Sekichiku Ninja Taiketsu!" (セキチクにんじゃたいけつ!)
(Sekichiku Ninja Showdown!)
October 20, 1998

November 4, 1997
The group arrive... somewhere, and find themselves deep in the Forest, stopping for a short break. Ash is enthusiastic to get moving to find and take on the Fuschia Gym. Meanwhile something is watching our heroes from the undergrowth.

While still trying to find the Fuschia gym the group happen upon a large Mansion in the middle of nowhere and it's revealed that it's a Venonat who has been following them, it then proceeds to run through the giant mansion, which turns out to be rigged with traps including angry voltorbs and invisible walls, much to the dismay of Ash.

Eventually they encounter Venonat and it's trainer Aya, who is a Ninja and leader of the training camp that they've stumbled upon. Ash challenges her to a battle and sends his Bulbasaur to face Venonat, with Bulbasaur eventually victorious by use of leech seed. Aya's older brother arrives saying no one can leave this mansion unless they battle him, he turns out to be Master Koga of the Fuschia Gym.

The first battle is Ash's Pidgeotto vs. Koga's Venonat, which immediately evolves into Venomoth at the start of the battle, quickly defeating Pidgeotto. Charmander is called out next but the Battle is then interrupted by Team Rocket. Ash and Koga agree to work together to fight them off but Team Rocket use a sticky goo to pin everyones Pokemon, Misty tries to help by sending out Starmie but gets Psyduck instead. Koga uses one of the traps and a group of Voltorb are released from the ceiling, one of which self destructs on Team Rocket who aren't quite beaten yet.

After Team Rocket reject Psyduck and are quite nasty to it, Psyduck manages to emmit a powerful attack which turns out to be Disable, followed by Confusion which it uses to blast Team Rocket off! It then even uses its psychic power to remove all the sticky stuff off everyones Pokemon. Koga and Aya both ask to trade their Venomoth and or Venonat respectively with Misty's Psyduck. Ash and Koga head outside to finish their battle, Koga sending out Golbat against Charmander, and Charmander managing to win the match with Fire Spin after a shaky start. Koga awards Ash with the Soul Badge and admits that he too has a lot to learn about battle.

Our heroes continue their journey, Ash has a new badge and the group have a newfound respect for Psyduck and the powers they never knew it had.
episode033 11121 33 33 "The Flame Pokémon-athon!"

"Honō no Pokemon Dai Rēsu!" (ほのおのポケモンだいレース!)
(The Big Fire Pokémon Race!)
October 21, 1998

November 11, 1997
Ash and friends arrive at the Safari zone in search of some new Pokemon when a herd of Tauros charges right nearby. Ash decides he wants to catch one, Pikachu pretends to be asleep so Ash sends in Charmander instead, who is then jumped on by a Growlithe who then proceeds to battle Charmander, Ash is about to send out Squirtle when a trainer on a Ponyta tells them to stop, because its a Pokemon reserve and illegal to catch Pokemon there. It turns out shes Lara Laramie and this is the Big P Pokemon Ranch that is owned by her family. After seeing that Ash and his friends aren't actually Pokemon thieves she invites them to a party at the ranch that night and telling them about a big race taking place tomorrow.

Another trainer; Dario the Dodrio trainer arrives and taunts Lara that he's going to beat her in the race tomorrow. During the evenings festivities Dario approaches Lara and tells her the Tauros are going crazy at the ranch, she rushes to sort it out when something startles Ponyta and he throws her off, breaking her elbow. Realising that shes not going to be able to ride Ponyta in the race tomorrow she watches how Ash manages to calm Ponyta.

In the meantime its revealed that Dario did a deal with Team Rocket to cause the disturbance that led to Lara breaking her arm. Later on Lara begs Ash to try and ride Ponyta at the race tomorrow in her stead and he accepts, before having his hand badly burned again. Lara talks to Ponyta and convinces it to let Ash ride it at the race the next day.

Many competitors enter the race on all sorts of different Pokemon but it soon becomes apparent that it's a two horse race; Ash & Ponyta vs. Dario and Dodrio. But Team Rocket and Dario aren't there to play fair and one by one racers are sabotaged. Dodrio is the fastest, and due to an electrode exploding thanks to another of Team Rocket's traps Ash and Ponyta are knocked out briefly. Pikachu shocks them back into action but despite being back in the race they were quite far behind. A PokéPitStop slows Dario and his troublesome Dodrio down a little and Dario prompts Team Rocket to again delay the other racers, Jessie and James start fighting Ash and Misty while Dario races off. Misty tells Ash to go, and he does but not before blasting Team Rocket off with a fire attack. Victory for Dario and Dodrio looked certain, but when Ash and Ponyta managed to draw level, Dodrio pecked Ponytas head and slowed it down, flying ahead once more.

Ponyta reacted to this provocation by evolving into Rapidash, the fastest of all Pokemon and clinched victory by a nose at the finish. An angry Dario and Dodrio attack Ash and Rapidash before Rapidash kicks them into the sunset. Lara directs Ash and his friends to the Safari Zone which is nearby and they say their goodbyes.
episode034 11122 34 34 "The Kangaskhan Kid"

"Garūra no Komoriuta" (ガルーラのこもりうた)
(Garura's Lullaby)
October 22, 1998

November 18, 1997
This time Ash and his friends arrive at the real Safari Zone, but at a small protected part of it which still counts as a Pokemon reserve. As they are about to start catching Pokemon an Officer Jenny disguised as a Chansey, wielding an assault rifle jumps out of the bushes and arrests them for poaching!

She takes the group to her outpost and explains that its still part of the reserve, after they explain that they didn't know she lets them off but another Poacher Alert is sounded on her systems and she with Ash and Gang in tow heads off to check it out. They arrive at a field filled with Kangaskhan just in time to see Team Rocket getting ready to poach them, Team Rocket startle the Kangaskhan with explosions who then charge at Ash & the gang, unknowingly charging into one of Team Rockets nets.

Jennys jeep is burned out and they're unable to get to the Kangaskhan in good time to save them, Jessie tries to capture the first Kangaskhan and her Pokéball is knocked out of the way by a Boomerang thrown by some kid in a tree. He frees the Kangaskhans who surround and attack Team Rocket, giving them a pounding and then sending them blasting off again. The kid then jumps into the pouch of the largest Kangaskhan and they all go back into the woods. Shortly after a Helicopter arrives a couple arrive, with the gentleman introducing himself as the father of a kid who got lost in the Safari Zone when they visited years ago. They searched for years but couldn't find him, and after hearing reports he has been seen with a pack of Kangaskhan they're back to look for him, this time enlisting the help of Ash, Misty, Brock and Ranger Jenny.

As they set out to find it they find an injured baby Kangaskhan on it's own. Brock starts to treat the injured Kangaskhan when Tommy appears and throws a Boomerang which proceeds to hit Ash in the face, Tommys parents catch up and start trying to explain to Tommy who they are. Tommy starts to remember, but rejects the idea that the Kangaskhan he knows as his parents aren't truly his parents, his father promptly hits him with a plank of wood which seems to kickstart his memory and he finally remembers. Ranger Jenny arrives and asks for the groups help against Kangaskhan Poachers, Tommy rushes off ahead through the trees.

Team Rocket use a big mechanical Kangaskhan and make the noises of an injured Kangaskhan to attract the group, before hitting them all with tranquilisers. Tommy arrives first and Team Rocket start to attack him but then Ash and Co also arrive and engage them! TR's Mechanical Kanga is then set alight, but isn't beaten and it begins to chase Jenny and the group. A helicopter appears, flown by Tommy's parents who fly into the mechanical Kanga to save Tommy and the group, everyone assumes then dead and Tommy begins to cry. His parents arise from the wreckage dressed like Tommy and tell him they've decided to join him and his Kangaskhan family and live in the wild to help protect them. Our heroes say goodbye, journey on, eager for more adventures and more new Pokémon.
episode035 j only 11123 E# N/A - Banned

J# 35
E# N/A - Banned

J# 35
N/A

"Miniryū no Densetsu" (ミニリュウのでんせつ)
(The Legend of Miniryu)
N/A

November 25, 1997
Ash and friends now enter what is hopefully the ACTUAL Safari Zone, and are still yet to catch a single Pokemon. Ash, Misty and Brock are hapilly singing about catching Pokemon when an old guy pulls a gun on them and shouts SHUT UP aggressively. It turns out he is Kaiza, the caretaker of the Safari Zone. For some reason Ash and Co enter the building with this obvious nutcase, still with their eyes on the prize of catching lots of Pokemon. The caretaker gets a box out filled with Safari balls and a rod, Ash reaches out to grab it and the guy again pulls a gun on him (lol wtf) stating that if Ash breaks the rules (use only Safari Balls and Rod to catch Pokemon) then "Thunderbolt" will get him, Thunderbolt being the name of his gun.

The gang spot a picture of a younger Kaiza with a Dratini and get excited about the prospect of such a rare Pokemon being here, Kaiza angrily states that there isn't one, Ash begins to argue that there's one in the picture and Kaiza again starts to squeeze the trigger of his gun, until Ash stops arguing.

Kaiza takes the picture outside and stares at it muttering to himself that he will never bother Dratini again. Meanwhile the gang speak to Professor Oak to ask why he's like this, turns out Oak does know Kaiza and that 30yrs prior Kaiza found Dratini but this attracted so many trainers to the zone trying to catch Dratini that all the vast majority of Pokemon there were captured, and the landscape was destroyed and left barren. Dratini was never found. This is why Kaiza does not want talk of the Dratini to start again.

Team Rocket were on the roof listening in on the conversation and they too want to get Dratini and every other Pokemon in the zone, as Kaiza is sending Ash and friends off to get some Pokemon TR appear behind them on a wooden arc in the air. Kaiza does not appreciate their motto and opens fire on them with two guns, they eventually fall off their platform. Team Rocket promise a fair fight and say that if Ash wins they will not bother him again, but if they win they get all of his Pokemon.

The Tauros charge again, Ash vows to catch one and throws a safari ball, as does Brock. They both catch a Tauros. Later, Ash throws a Safari ball at a Rhyhorn and captures a passing Tauros.

Meanwhile Team Rocket have taken Kaiza captive and pulled his own gun on him, as well as an extra gun. When he realises what bad people they are he attacks them, but Jessie uses Arbok to restrain him. She even then offers to go out with him if he tells them where Dratini is. Team Rocket unveil their "ultimate" weapon which is a robot that tickles people until they give information; Kaiza then yields the info on Dratini. Meanwhile Ash, Misty and Brock are fishing and Misty gets a Gyarados up but it snaps the rod and dives back beneath the water. Kaiza turns up, still tangled in Team Rockets machine and Pikachu shocks it off him, he tells Ash and co that TR has gone after Dratini in the Dragon Valley.

Dratini reveals itself to Jessie who in her excitement cuts off the air for Meowth and James (who are already under water) while she tries to catch it. James and Meowth scare Dratini off at the last second when they come up for air and then improvise an electric underwater bomb to shock everything in the water and bring all the Pokemon to the surface, it works. Just as they are about to start catching them all Ash, Misty, Brock and Mr. Kaiza arrive.

Team Rocket throw another electric bomb into the water and Kaiza dives in to try and stop it exploding, closely followed by Ash. Staryu takes Kaiza back to the surface as he was old and unable to make it. Ash picks up the bomb and starts swimming toward the surface, but runs out of air, sinking to the bottom. Still no explosion and heavy rain begins, it all looks rather grim, that is until the Legendary Pokemon Dragonair rises from the water, saving Ash and restoring the good weather. Ash lands Team Rockets own bomb on them just in time and sends them blasting off. Mr. Kaiza approaches the Dragonair, who turns out to be the evolved form of the Dratini he spent the last 30 years protecting, after an emotional reunion Dragonair then reveals it's Dratini children!

Ash, Misty and Brock vow to never tell anyone of the Dratini and Dragonair living in the Safari Zone and continue their journey, meanwhile Professor Oak gets stampeded in his own lab by all the Tauros that Ash caught.

Note: This episode was aired in Japan but banned in the rest of the world. Click here to find out why it was banned.
episode036 11124 E# 35

J# 36
E# 35

J# 36
"The Bridge Bike Gang"

"Arashi no Saikuringu Rōdo" (あらしのサイクリングロード)
(Stormy Cycling Road)
October 23, 1998

December 2, 1997
With fond memories of the Safari zone still fresh in their minds our heroes arrive in a nearby City and while looking for the Pokemon Center they find the biggest bridge they've ever seen. Brock seems to know about the bridge and tells them it straight leads to Sunnytown on the opposite side, which will save them lots of time. Sadly it turns out that a) the bridge isn't completely finished and b) the bridge is only for cars because its 10 miles long.

Just then some cyclists pass by, it seems that the bridge is open to cyclists but not to cars yet. The mention of bikes opens old wounds between Ash and Misty. They can't afford a bike and are sat around at the Pokemon Center trying to think of a solution, at this point Nurse Joy asks them to help her take some urgent medicine to the Pokemon Center in Sunny Town. She offers to borrow them some bicycles to cross the bridge and the problem is solved. They set off on their long cycling journey across the bridge, Jessie and James meanwhile are on an inflatable boat beneath the bridge watching them.

The group stop for a break, and a huge Bicycle gang approaches and surrounds them, their leader states that they can't cross the bridge without an introduction, and by that he means a battle. Ash agrees to battle him, the biker gangs leader sends out Golem and Ash chooses Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur is taken out by a powerful tackle attack and Ash sends out Charmander whose heat is too much for Golem to take, and Ash wins, another member of the gang steps up and sends out Cloyster to battle, Misty decides to battle her instead as Cloyster is a water Pokemon and thats her speciality. While Misty tries to decide which Pokemon to use, Psyduck jumps out of it's ball and the gang start to laugh at it, followed shortly by Ash. Misty orders Psyduck to attack Cloyster but it all goes rather badly. Cloyster clamps Psyducks head briefly before the battle is interrupted by Team Rocket on unicycles.

It seems that the gang members know Jessie and James who used to have 'quite a reputation' from back in the day, knowing them as Big Jess and Little Jim. Jessie and James reveal themselves as members of Team Rocket and ask for the gangs help to capture everyones Pokemon. The police then arrive, chase the gang and Team Rocket away and the trio continue on their journey to deliver the medicine.

A terrible storm begins and the trio continue. Meanwhile Jessie and James are watching from the safety of being behind a window when the gang pressure them into riding into the eye of the storm! The drawbridge begins to open but Ash won't wait because theres a sick Pokemon who needs the medicine. He speeds up and jumps the gap in the bridge, at the same time Team Rocket are jumping over. Ash, Misty and Brock bounce off Team Rocket's heads to make it across where they are confronted once more by the Biker gang, but to our heroes surprise once the bikers realise what their mission is they actually help them reach the Pokémon Center.

With the medicine delivered, Ash and Misty taking on the gang names "Awesome Ash and Mighty Misty" respectively and Brocks advances on a female gang member firmly rejected our heroes continue their journey.
episode037 11125 E# 36

J# 37
E# 36

J# 37
"Ditto's Mysterious Mansion"

"Metamon to Monomane Musume" (メタモンとものまねむすめ)
(Metamon and the Copycat Girl)
October 26, 1998

December 9, 1997
As our heroes continue their journey a sudden rain storm comes out of nowhere. Desperately seeking shelter they head over to an isolated mansion in the woods, they enter and announce themselves but no one appears to be home.

Another Pikachu appears, Misty picks it up but its face is distorted, Ash concludes that its a new type of Pikachu and tries to catch it. A girl called Duplika arrives dressed as Ash and reveals that the Pokemon was infact not a Pikachu, but a Ditto. Duplika reveals that Ditto is unable to get its face right when it transforms into another Pokemon, she then challenges "Ashy-boy" to a match. She takes on Ash's Bulbasaur with a Ditto transformed into a Bulbasaur and wins by default when Ash gives up. She heads into the dressing room in the Theatre of Imite (Imitation, which is clearly her and her Pokemons specialty) and imitiates Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy and Misty. Ash isn't amused however and is stood around trying to figure out how to beat Ditto.

Duplika states that she wants to become the greatest Ditto master and a big star, and isn't set to rival Ash, but the only thing getting in the way of her dreams is that Ditto can't replicate faces properly!

Team Rocket turn up in the Imite House and try to steal Ditto, they then ask Ditto to transform into a Dratini so they can give it to the boss as a present. But Jessie has other ideas and wants Ditto to transform into what her first love would look like as an adult, but she notices the quality problems with the face transformations right away.... Pidgeotto and Zubat find where Team Rocket are holding Ditto and they set off to save it.

Team Rocket have spent a lot of time threatening and pressuring Ditto into transforming properly, and in the end it paid off with Ditto replicating Meowths face perfectly. The group demand they give Ditto back, Jessie and James give Meowth over to Duplika and fly off with Ditto who uses a Meowth bite and escapes their balloon, but Team Rocket not knowing when to quit send out a net cannon, Duplika orders Ditto to replicate it, and returns fire, firing Pikachu and one of his thunderbolts straight at the balloon and blasting Team Rocket off. Duplika tests out her Ditto's now perfect transformation abilities. The Imite House is now reopened and Duplika's dreams are now a reality.

The group say their goodbyes to Duplika and Ash (dreaming of a Ditto of his own) and gang head off on their journey.

 episode038 11126 E# N/A -Banned

J# 38
E# N/A -Banned

J# 38
N/A

"Dennō Senshi Porigon" (でんのうせんしポリゴン)
(Cyber Soldier Porygon)
N/A

December 16, 1997
At last our heroes have arrivevd at Matcha City, it's been a long journey and the group, particularly Pikachu needs a rest. They set off for the Pokemon Center for a hard earned break, when they get there they find the Pokemon Center phones ringing off the hook and Nurse Joy talking about Pokemon that transferred but didn't arrive at their destinations.

The rather stressed out inventor of the transporter machine states that its impossible and that theres no problems with the machines hardware or its programming. Ash and the gang approach Joy and ask whats happening, she says that when a rare Pokemon is transported its exchanged when it reaches its destination for something like a Magikarp, and she deems it the fault of a system bug. Meanwhile the inventor of the machine Akihabara-hakase thinks he sees a problem in the system. Brock theorises that it could be a computer virus, meanwhile Ash tries to get his head around what one of those is and the inventor of the transfer system gets up and runs out of the room shouting that it couldn't possibly be.

Ash, Misty and Brock head to Akihabara-hakase's lab to see if they can help him find answers. After entering his lab uninvited and walking around the dark corridors they encounter a virtual reality device which leads them into a huge Pokéball transporter and locks them in, a strange Pokemon appears inside with them which he announced as "The True Form of the CG Pokemon, Porygon", he then declared himself a genius. Misty took exception to him calling himself a genius as he couldn't work out the fault with the Pokemon Centers transporter. Akihabara-hakase then explains that he knows what the problem is, a strange group had stolen his Prototype Porygon and used it to enter the virtual electronic world, from within the very computer systems themselves this group is stealing Pokémon and replacing the ones that should've been transported with more common ones. Ash and the gang quickly deduce that this is probably Team Rocket, and Akihabara-hakase states that if he uses an antivirus now it will blow anything alive inside the system to pieces. *An image of jessie james and meowth with a whirly flashing explosion animation plays*.

Ash asks if there is any way of doing this without blowing them up, he tells them that theres one way, if people go inside the system and get Team Rocket out manually. Ash and friends aren't enthused by the idea and want to go, but it's quite apparent that Akihabara-hakase isn't going to let them leave unless they do it. It's concluded that humans have never been sent to the electronic world in this way and that Ash, Misty and Brock will be the first, a risky and frightening prospect for our heroes, what if they can't come back being the main concern, he wishes them luck and beams them along with Porygon and Pikachu to the electronic world. The trio find virtual versions of themselves plumetting through the inside of a computer, Porygon flies beneath them, becomes larger and catches them. They discover the main network highway where Pokemon transfers take place and follow it until they find Team Rocket. *There are lots of flashing lights etc to indicate computer communication signals*. It doesn't take long before they find a massive amount of stolen Pokeballs and then Team Rocket. Ash, Misty and Brock ride Porygon into battle and Team Rocket send out Arbok and Weezing. Porygon wields it's Conversion move and quickly defeats Arbok and Weezing, however Team Rocket send out the Prototype Porygon they stole, and the two Porygon engage in a seemingly endless battle. Ash, Misty and Brock unblock the transfer highway and many balls begin getting transported, Team Rocket run to stop them but Pikachu shocks them. Real Porygon wins the battle against the Prototype version. Akihabara-hakase panics and leaves communications, noting that the Pokemon Center seems to be accessing his program, he calls Nurse Joy to see whats happening and Pokemon Center HQ have sent someone to fix the problem with a strong anti virus, if it gets installed while Ash, Misty, Brock and Team Rocket are inside they'll all be blown to bits.

Just as Akihabara-hakase is telling our heroes about this, the anti virus arrives and comes to attack and ultimately terminate them. Porygon swoops in and starts trying to transport them out. Team Rocket want to fight still but Ash tells them if they don't run they'll never see the real world again. Meowth turns up on the Porygon prototype which still appears a bit worn out from losing the battle and grabs Jessie and James. The Antivirus is shooting at both of them as they try to get out, it gets a hit and Porygon is shaken but quickly retrieves Ash and friends and helps them escape just in time. Team Rocket regain consciousness in a dark virtual world with their Porygon knocked out, Ash and friends contemplate whether to go back and help Team Rocket but the anti virus is looming near and about to take them out. Just as the anti virus fires Team Rocket and the knocked out Porygon prototype are rescued by Bulbasaurs Vine whip. Unfortunately the weight of all the passengers slows the remaining Porygon right down and now the anti virus is right behind them. Pikachu shocks the antivirus missles and they escape through the exit back to the real world, unfortunately so does one of the missles and it destroys Akihabara-hakase's lab and inventions in the process.

With the Pokemon Centers transfer machine back online, and everyone completely unaware of the risks out heroes took to fix it, or how mad that Scientist guy was the gang finally take a rest in the Pokemon Center before moving on with their journey.

Note: This episode was banned permanently due to the Pokemon Shock incident in Japan affecting 685 Children. Read more: Why Electric Soldier Porygon was Banned
episode065 11153 E# 37

J# 39
E# 37

J# 39
"Holiday Hi-Jynx"

"Rūjura no Kurisumasu" (ルージュラのクリスマス)
(Rougela's Christmas)
December 11, 1999

October 5, 1998
This Christmas special episode opens with Jessie dreaming in bed, James dressing as Santa, entering the room and promptly being caught in a trap. This was a test run, because Team Rocket are plotting to kidnap Santa in order to steal everyones presents. Jessie then explains that as a kid she witnessed Santa Claus, who is infact a Jynx coming down the Chimney and stealing one of Jessies toys, then leaving.

Meanwhile Ash and gang spot a Jynx on the bank of a lake with Ash setting hits hopes on capturing it, immediately attacking Jynx with a thundershock. Jynx isn't beaten however and picks up Pikachu and subjects him to a lovely kiss, sending Pikachu to sleep. Ash attacks with Charmander and tries to capture Jynx who still doesn't really retaliate. The Jynx is holding a boot which they suspect might belong to it's trainer, to their surprise they find the boot appears to belong to Santa Claus. Jynx projects the story of how it got lost from it's home and trainer into Ash, Misty and Brocks minds, turns out Jynx drifted away from the North Pole on a piece of ice while it was polishing one of Santa's boots. Team Rocket of course were watching the whole time and want Ash and friends to lead them to the North Pole so Jessie can get revenge on Santa and steal everyones toys. They make their way into the ocean on a raft, pulled by the water Pokemon who eventually get worn out. Ash jumps in and starts pulling the raft, something communicates with Ash using it's psychic power telling him he's going the right way, a big wave knocks him under the water and he starts to drown, the origin of the psychic communication, a Lapras then appears and rescues Ash, reuniting him with the group.

It turns out that Lapras was sent by Santa to try and find the missing Jynx, she thanks the group for their help and says she will now take them the rest of the way to Santa's workshop. The temperature starts to drop as they arrive near the North Pole. Team Rocket's sub emerges in front of them, Jessie see's the Jynx, still thinks that it's actually Santa clause and they begin to attack them. Putting a net over Lapras, Ash, Misty and Brock and kidnapping Jynx Team rocket then continue to Santas "lair" and find a whole lot more Jynx and the real Santa Claus. Jessie contemplates for a moment that it might not actually have been Santa who robbed her all those years ago. Team Rocket take Santa hostage as Ash and co arrive, while issuing a threat to the Jynx. Team Rocket start stealing the presents and Santa reasons with Jessie. Jynx then uses psychic communication to replay the scene of what Jessie thought was her doll being stolen, it turns out Jynx was just taking Jessies favourite doll back to Santa to be repaired, Jynx then gives the doll to Jessie. Jessie asks why the doll never got bought back in ten years, and Santa explains its because Jessie didn't believe in him anymore, and he is powerless to go where people don't believe in him.

After a tearful reunion with her doll, Jessie still decides to steal all the presents and they start to make off in the sub. Lapras communicates with them using her Psychic power and tells them that Christmas is for everyone and they shouldn't steal it. Lapras freezes the sub but Charmander unfortunately defrosts it. Santa seems unconcerned and tells everyone not to worry, before commanding his helpers (the Jynx) to all use Psywave, the sub is lifted from the water, the presents shaken out of it back to safety and Team Rocket are blasted off again.

Santa has a busy night ahead of him and sets off to deliver the presents. The snow begins to fall and a Jynx brings everyone their presents. A defeated Team Rocket lie in bed hoping Santa will visit them, Jynx puts them to sleep with a lovely kiss before delivering their presents.
episode066 11154 E# 38

J# 40
E# 38

J# 40
"Snow Way Out"

"Iwāku de Bibāku" (イワークでビバーク)
(Iwark as a Bivouac)
December 18, 1999

October 5, 1998
As Ash and his friends continue on their journey they figure their future is favourable but the foursome is about to find a fateful fork in the road and they aren't 100% sure which way to go. Ash randomly decides a direction, a trail that heads up a mountain, Ash says "whats a little hill?" and him and Pikachu start up the path with Ash and Brock reluctantly following.

The friends reach the end of the trail and arrive at the foot of a snowy mountain, it's no hill thats for sure. Brock and Misty suggest turning back but Ash says no Pokemon Master would turn back because of a mountain and is determined to continue. They proceed up the mountain, it's getting really cold, Brocks compass has gone haywire and he can no longer use it to navigate. Misty starts getting angry that Ash has got them into this, Ash sends Pidgeotto to find a path down the mountain and it returns, successful, indicating the way they should go. The group continue along the mountain path.

Not far away, at a lower part of the mountain James and Meowth are clinging to each other Freezing, while Jessie is dancing in the snow, singing about it. She asks James and Meowth if they've ever had a "snowgasboard", one of the true happy memories of her otherwise wretched childhood, she reminisces about a younger version of herself being called by her mother who then served her lots of different types of foods, made entirely with snow. James and Meowth are a bit shocked that her mother fed her on snow, and she explains that they were poor and had to make do. She then also explains that the snow food is extremely low calorie and helped her keep her incredible figure, adding that it was even better if you added a small amount of soy sauce.

Team Rocket decide to get going and try to head off Ash and co using their balloon, but the balloon has other ideas and has started to drift away, with Team Rocket desperately chasing it. Meanwhile Ash and co continue up the mountain, they've been walking all day and aren't even at the top yet, a storm closes in around Ash and the gang who are getting really cold now. Brock suggests they stop and set up camp for the night, and tells Ash they should dig in and let the storm pass, adding that not even the bravest Pokemon master would run around in a snowstorm in the dark. Ash see's Brocks point and agrees, just then a strong breeze knocks Pikachu out of Ash's arms and Ash runs off into the Blizzard to find Pikachu. As Ash wades through the snow he is knocked to the ground by another strong wind, but he hears Pikachu's voice and follows the sound, finding Pikachu hanging off a cliff edge over a sheer drop. Ash can't quite reach Pikachu and sends out Bulbasaur to grab him with his vine whip, Bulbasaur tries to grab him but fails and Pikachu begins falling, it looks bad but Bulbasaur tries one more time and manages to catch Pikachu, with Ash's help pulling him up to the surface.

Ash and Pikachu realise they should probably get back to Brock and Misty but they're unable to climb back up the slope, with the icy breezes getting even colder they realise they're going to have to stay put. Ash begins digging a cave into the mountainside but his hands get too cold to continue digging, Ash then has the idea to use Charmander to create a cave by melting the snow with it's flames. Once they get inside Ash uses Squirtle, Pikachu, Charmander and Bulbasaur to seal the cave entrance and they all gather around Charmanders flame to try and keep warm.

Team Rocket are in a similar predicament and find themselves in a freezing cold igloo, with no matches left. But Jessie has prepared them some fresh snow rolls using her moms "secret recipe" so it's not all bad. The three of them take one burned out match each and try using their imaginations to keep warm, each of them imagining themselves in hot locations. Meowth and James fall asleep, Jessie slaps them til they wake up, telling them they'll freeze if they fall asleep.

Ash and friends are doing comparatively quite well, but Charmander has been using the flame on it's tail for too long and has run out of energy. Ash tells him to return and conserve his strength, Charmander doesn't want to but Ash returns him anyway, deciding it will be warmer for his Pokemon in their balls he then returns Squirtle and Bulbasaur too. Just as he is about to return Pikachu to his ball, Pikachu jumps on him and tells Ash he wants to stay out to help keep him warm. Ash hope's that his Pokemon in the balls are warm enough and takes off his jacket, wrapping up his Pokéballs to make sure. The blizzard then blasts a whole through the cave entrance, Ash blocks it with his body to prevent anymore freezing cold air breaching the cave and tells Pikachu that he must get in his Pokéball now, Pikachu doesn't want to and disobeys Ash's order directly.  Seconds later all of Ash's Pokemon come out of their Pokéballs and huddle together to keep him and each other warm.

The next morning the sun rises, the blizzard is over and Charmander melts away the caves entrance, Misty and Brock shout Ash, they happen to be directly above the cave looking for them. Brock's Onix lifts Ash and his Pokemon up the slope and the group is reunited. After questioning how Ash survived the night Ash explains he made a cave just like Brock said, Misty then drops the bombshell that they didn't have to stay in a cave afterall because Onix burrowed into an underground hotspring and were really warm and comfortable all night (much to Ash's shock and dismay). The friends then stumble across Team Rocket's balloon crashed in the mountains, they fix it up and then use Vulpix's flames to fuel the balloon, using it to continue on their journey. Team Rocket are still pinching each other to stay awake and they see the Balloon passing overhead, they start to give chase but accidentally fall into a hotspring, potentially the one Misty and Brock spent the night in!
episode039 11127 E# 39

J# 41
E# 39

J# 41
"Pikachu's Goodbye"

"Pikachū no Mori" (ピカチュウのもり)
(Forest of Pikachu)
November 20, 1998

April 16, 1998
Our hero Ash along with his friends Misty and Brock are tired from their adventures and decide to take a break in a quiet forest. Well Misty and Brock do, Ash uses the time to imitiate Tommy the Kangaskhan kid and swing from trees, as Ash is collapsed on the floor Pikachu see's another Chu and runs after it into the bushes; Ash and friends give chase.

Eventually they all arrive at a clearing, which is completely full of Pikachu's. Pikachu greets them but the other Pikachu aren't friendly toward him, except one little one which approaches him, as the other Pikachu watch on in horror, the two shake tails and the other chu's are then happy to approach and start to become friends. Ash runs over because he too wants to be friends, but it scares off all the wild Pikachu, much to his own Pikachu's dismay.

As Ash, Misty and Brock are discussing what happened, the little Pikachu who first befriended Ash's falls out of the tree it was using to hide in to eavesdrop and lands in the water. Ash's Pikachu jumps in to save it, and both he and the small Pikachu are rescued right at the last minute by the Chu gang. After regaining consciousness Ash's Pikachu is given an apple and celebrated as a hero, now truly accepted as part of the group. Unfortunately during this wonderful moment Team Rocket are watching and rubbing their hands together at the thought of Catchin em' all.

Ash and friends continue to watch the Pikachu' interact, Brock drops the line "I think it's the best thing in the world for Pikachu to be here with its own kind" with a rye smile, this sets Ash's mind racing and he's clearly deep in thought. That night Ash stays awake while Brock and Misty sleep, still troubled by what Brock said and how happy Pikachu looked with it's new friends. Ash hears something, and with Brock and Misty goes to investigate, finding all the Chu's trapped in a net. It becomes quickly apparent that Team Rocket are behind it. Pikachu tries to shock his way out of the net but it doesn't work, James announces that its their new Pikachu "seizure" net (really, after episode 38 Lol). Team Rocket also capture Ash and friends in the net, then Pikachu starts to gnaw through the net and all the others do the same. The Pikachu can now leave the net but are still quite high in the air, Ash, Misty and Brock hold out a net to break their falls and they all jump out to safety, Ash's Pikachu stays aboard the balloon to send Team Rocket blasting off by biting through the balloon. Ash and Pikachu celebrate briefly then Pikachu runs back to the Pikachu group to celebrate with them instead. Ash looks as though he decides something and begins to walk away, telling his friends that he is leaving Pikachu and his mind is made up. Pikachu arrives at their camp and Ash tells him to stay there and that he'll be much happier with the others of his kind, Ash runs off alone crying, remembering his time with Pikachu.

Ash finally stops running and Misty/Brock eventually catch up to ask him why he's doing this, Ash explains he thinks that Pikachu will be happier this way. Just then Pikachu appears on the horizon, with the whole gang of Pikachu, Ash's Pikachu shakes tails with the small Pikachu that he befriended and all of the other Pikachu cheer.... for Ash and Pikachu. The audience continues to taste their own salty tears, Ash and Pikachu are reunited and our heroes continue on.
episode040 11128 E# 40

J# 42
E# 40

J# 42
"The Battling Eevee Brothers"

"Ībui Yon Kyōdai" (イーブイ4きょうだい)
(The 4 Eievui Brothers)
October 27, 1998

April 16, 1998
During their travels through the forest, Pikachu senses something nearby and heads into the bushes where he finds an Eevee tied to a tree abandoned. The Eevee has an address tag 'Stone 3-14 Town', a nearby town at the foot of Evolution mountain. So they all set off to take Eevee home.

They arrive at the house, a huge and impressive Mansion where theres a garden party taking place and lots of Pokemon are being evolved by the use of special items. Witnessing a Poliwhirl evolve into Poliwrath. There are lots of fully evolved Pokemon all over the party infact, and it seems stones were used to achieve this. I guess the clues were in 'Stone' Town, and 'Evolution' mountain huh?

The three brothers who appear to be the hosts of the party are pleased to see Eevee and approach the group, taking Eevee back and calling their younger brother Mikey over. Eevee runs to Mikey who is his trainer and his brothers tell him off for losing Eevee, little Mikey seems angry that they bought Eevee back. Each of Mikey's older brothers specialise in the evolved Eevee forms; Jolteon, Vaporeon and Flareon who each push Mikey to evolve his Eevee into their preferred type. But it soon becomes apparent that Mikey doesn't want Eevee to evolve at all, because he likes his friend how it is. It's also revealed that the whole point of this garden party was for Mikey to evolve his Eevee. The Eevee brothers present a collection of their Evolution stones to Ash and friends, even offering them one. The brothers offer Ash and Brock a thunderstone and fire stone in order to evolve Pikachu and Vulpix respectively but they both reject the offer of forcing their Pokemon to evolve.

Team Rocket are watching events unfold in the background. Mikey tells Misty he tied Eevee up (with food and water) in the forest to stop him having to be evolved at the party and that he was going to come back for Eevee later, Mikey just wants Eevee to be his best friend, and isn't concerned about battling. Misty persuades Mikey to tell his brothers how he feels, and after some hesitation he's about to tell them when Team Rocket interrupt by attacking the party.

While eating as much food as possible, Team Rocket smoke screen the party and Ash uses Pidgeotto to clear it, when the smoke clears all the peoples Pokemon have disappeared, as have the evolution stones (and the food). Psyduck however was left behind. Ash's Pidgeotto had been in the air at this point and wasn't taken, it attacks the balloon and brings it down, but theres no one in the balloon. Team Rocket meanwhile are escaping by road, Misty's horsea spits a trail of ink to help lead our heroes to where its been taken. Team Rocket sit around eating and celebrating their haul, but then they decide it's time to Evolvev Eevee using the stones.... but start arguing amongst themselves as to what they should evolve Eevee into. They decide to use all three stones on Eevee at the same time to turn it into something "Really evil".

Ash and friends arrive just in time to intervene, Misty calls Jessie an "old hag" and Jesssie and James attack, Ash is about to battle them but the Eevee brothers step up and say they should save Eevee because they're Mikey's brothers. Team Rocket appear beaten, and can't escape because of Flareon's fire spin blocking their path, Arbok and Weezing however surprise attack Flareon, Vaporeon and Jolteon and knock them out claiming victory, that is until Misty's Horsea ink's Jessie so she drops the cage with Eevee in, Mikey catches it. Pikachu then drops thunder on them all, but Team Rocket still want to fight. Mikey see's Vaporeon, Flareon and Jolteon badly hurt and Mikey sends Eevee to fight Team Rocket, Eevee uses rage tackle attack and sends Team Rocket blasting off.

Mikey's brothers see that he managed to win his first battle despite not even evolving his Pokemon. He tells his brothers that he is going to become an Eevee trainer, his brothers understand and say he should've just told them sooner, they make the party a celebration party for Eevee's first victory. Mikey and Misty are now friends forever, Team Rocket are defeated once again.
episode041 11129 E# 41

J# 43
E# 41

J# 43
"Wake Up, Snorlax!"

"Okiro! Kabigon!" (おきろ! カビゴン!)
(Wake Up! Kabigon!)
October 28, 1998

April 23, 1998
Ash, Misty and Brock continue along on their journey, bumping into a strange hippy type guy playing a PokéFlute, he plays them a tune and then says "now that you've heard my music, you have to give me some food" but they don't have anything to give him. They continue on to the town, Team Rocket then encounter the same guy, he plays them a tune, but they disrespect him and walk off.

Our starving heroes meanwhile arrive in town to find that there is no food in the whole town, no ones around and all the restaurants are closed due to lack of ingredients. An old man happens upon them and takes them back to his house, and gives them some food, explaining that the river has completely dried up and now they can't make any produce. He and his family however have reasonable food stores. The old man, who is the towns Mayor takes them to where the river used to flow. Ash and gang vow to try and find out the source of the problem to thank the Mayor for his kindness. They find a load of thorns at the end of the river and start crawling through them, they use their Pokemon to cut through all the thorn bushes. On the other side they find a spring, which is also starting to dry up... and a huge Snorlax, they notice water trickling from behind the Snorlax, it's blocking the spring and is the source of the problem!

Our heroes begin trying to wake Snorlax up, but to no avail, they then try to move it, but as the heaviest species of Pokemon sometimes weighing over 1000lbs, this is a tall order. Even a PokéBall doesn't work. While the group racks its brains as to what to do, Team Rocket emerge from the bushes, and Meowth arrives seperately in a hot air Balloon. It seems Team Rocket want to take the Snorlax, in order to help the Town, Ash and Co actually agree to help them. The plan fails when the cables snap on the balloon and Meowth endures a crash landing. Both groups continue to try and wake Snorlax. When traditional methods fail, they decide that maybe Snorlax is like Sleeping Beauty and that the kiss of a Noble Pokemon might just awaken it, this also fails. Meowth dresses up and kisses Snorlax to try and awaken it, Snorlax looks a little bit sick but doesn't wake up, he turns a little and they find a note underneath it, stating that in the case of an emergency a PokéFlute can be used to awaken Snorlax. Both groups set off to find the old hippy with the flute from the beginning of the episode. Both groups arrive at a similar time and start arguing about who the old guy should accompany, Ash battles Jessie and sends TR packing. The old man reaches Snorlax, reveals he's actually it's owner and plays the Flute to wake it up!

Snorlax awakens as planned and after a series of stretches it moves out of the way, walking off into the forest to feed, but the water still doesn't flow because piles of thorns had grown behind Snorlax and they now block the water flow too. It looks briefly like our heroes have their work cut out, but then Snorlax begins eating ALL of the thorns, clearing the waterway and the river begins to flow once more!

Ash and friends return to town and tell the Mayor who throws a special banquet to celebrate. The old hippy guy's Snorlax alarm goes off, it seems that he has another Snorlax he needs to wake up and he heads off to do his thing.
episode042 11130 E# 42

J# 44
E# 42

J# 44
"Showdown at Dark City"

"Taiketsu! Pokemon Jimu!" (たいけつ! ポケモンジム!)
(Showdown! Pokémon Gym!)
October 29, 1998

April 30, 1998
Dark City, the next step on the journey for Ash, Misty and Brock. The trio arrive at the dingy, deserted ghost town and find no one around. Eventually a kid runs out of the a house in front of them and his mother quickly pulls him back in, fearing that Pokemon Trainers might be around. Ash, Misty and Brock are wondering why she'd be afraid of Pokemon Trainers and just then some people throw stones at them from a rooftop. Pikachu shocks the kids who did it and they fall off the rooftop.

Ash apologises to the kids for shocking them, but the kids attack them with a stick and tell Ash and gang to get out of town if there anything to do with Pokemon. Their father steps in and apologises on behalf of the kids, he invites the gang to his restaurant and as he serves them their food he explains that in Dark City there are two rival Pokemon Gym's; the Yas Gym and the Kaz Gym who are currently embroiled in a gang war, hiring any passing Pokémon trainers they can as soldiers to fight for them. Apparently the gyms are fighting for supremacy in Dark City and the one that wins will become an official Pokemon Gym. A suspicious figure is also in the restaurant in the background but it kicks off between the Kaz gym and the Yas gym outside.

A battle ensues in the street as Ash, Misty, Brock and the kids watch through the window. The Kaz gym's Electabuzz attacking many members of the Yas gym before the Yas gym's Scyther started cutting down trainers from the Kaz gym. Finally they can understand why no one in Dark City wants Pokemon Trainers around. A couple of bodyguards working on behalf of the Kaz Gym come to the restaurant and attack the owner, saying they want a takeaway for 30 people (the Kaz gym trainers), but he nervously declines stating that they haven't paid their bills in years. The owner saying he doesn't want any "trouble" prompted these mysterious Kaz gym bodyguards to reveal their true identities; Team Rocket. They begin attacking the restaurant owner with their Pokemon before being dispatched mostly by Brocks Vulpix, after they're gone and the owner thanks them for saving his restaurant a trainer from the Yas gym says how impressed she is and asks them to join the Yas gym, stating that their gym is truly worthy of the official gym status. The Yas gym recruiter introduces the gang to Yas, the leader of the Yas gym, when its revealed they only want to become official to make money Ash and gang decline to help them, and are promptly attacked by Pokemon and members of the gym, before narrowly escaping back to the restaurant.

With the official Pokemon League inspectors on the way the Kaz and Yas gyms are preparing to run each other out of time, meanwhile Ash, Misty, Brock, the kids and the restaurant owner however have other ideas and rig a trap. As the battle ensues between the rival gyms, Ash and Gang tip Tomato Ketchup on all of them, which prompts both Electabuzz and Scyther to 'see red' and attack their masters in a full on rage. Ash and friends ask if they've learned their lesson, but the two gyms then join forces to attack them instead, our heroes however had anticipated this, and set up electrical transmitters in the surrounding areas to amplify Pikachu's thunder. They gang leaders still continue to try and attack Ash and friends until the mysterious figure from the restaurant appears, revealing herself as the inspector from the Pokemon League, Nurse Joy! She gives both gym leaders a good telling off, and says she could never allow them to be official the way they are, they ask what they should change and she tells them to ask Ash, who they still know as "Tom Ato". Ash tells them to undo all the damage they did to the town, and working together the two gyms clean up the town and the townsfolks impression of Pokemon Trainers on the whole. Now Dark City's a lot brighter, thanks to our heroes and the journey continues.
episode043 11131 E# 43

J# 45
E# 43

J# 45
"The March of the Exeggutor Squad"

"Nasshī Gundan Daikōshin!" (ナッシーぐんだんだいこうしん!)
(The Huge March of the Nassy Squad!)
October 30, 1998

May 7, 1998
After a difficult journey with many challenges along the way our heroes are in luck, they've arrived in town just in time for the Carnival. Ash and Brock party on down and start dancing, Misty isn't so forthcoming and goes off to have some fun with Pikachu, she overhears a magicians assistant giving the magician (who is begging her not to go) some abuse. She goes over to check if he's ok and ends up getting hired by Melvin the Magician Magnificent to be his new assistant. Misty agrees to help him for one day, gets changed and heads to the stage... there aren't many people watching but the ones that are get impatient quickly. Melvin's performance goes rather wrong and the audience give him a final bout of abuse before throwing things at him and leaving, the Carnival owner then sacks Melvin. Melvin and Exeggcute look beaten and say that their dreams will never come true, before Ash gives him a peptalk and tells him to learn some new, better stuff, the gang promises to help Melvin but meanwhile Team Rocket are watching and plotting in the background.

Ash does his own Pokemon Magic show which is going well until Charmander, Bulbasaur and Squirtle start having a fight in his box of tricks. Shortly after Ash is trying to work out what Melvin can do with the Exeggcute, when they hypnotise him, giving Melvin an idea. Under hypnosis Melvin commands Ash into the middle of the forest and tells him to attack a group of Exeggutor. Melvin catches all of the Exeggutor that Ash's Pokemon weaken. Brock and Misty work out that Ash is hypnotised and set out to look for him. Jessie and James appear and attempt to steal all the Exeggutor that Melvin just caught, distracting him with a few magic tricks of their own before actually attacking Melvin. With their master in danger Melvin's Exeggcute evolves into Exeggutor and they along with all the other Exeggutor hynotise Team Rocket. With Ash and Team Rocket under hypnosis and Melvin tied up, the Exeggutor get out of control and start stampeding toward the carnival. Misty and Brock arrive shortly after and with Ash and Brock they head back to the carnival to try and stop the stampede before it's too late. Unfortunately it is too late, the carnival is completely destroyed and the carnival owner tells everyone to move because he's planted a time bomb in the wreckage of the carnival which will explode on the exeggutor when they come back. Ash attacks the Exeggutor with Charmanders fire, snapping some of them out of their confusion but Charmander can't get all of them, so it's up to Melvin to use his fire trick to stop the Exeggutor, Melvin manages a powerful raging fire magic attack despite being plagued by self doubt and earns newfound self belief. His own Exeggutor returns to him if a little chargrilled and the timebomb blows up in the background, with no Exeggutor hurt in the process. Just then Charmander evolves into Charmeleon!

Ash and friends bid farewell to Melvin who is now intent on following his dreams of performing in Las Vegas. The Exeggutor stampede continues, in a safer direction, except for Team Rocket who are stuck in the middle of it.
episode044 11132 E# 44

J# 46
E# 44

J# 46
"The Problem with Paras"

"Parasu to Parasekuto" (パラスとパラセクト)
(Paras and Parasect)
February 13, 1999

May 14, 1998
Ash and friends arrive in Moss Green village, a cute little place but so small that it doesn't even have it's own Pokemon Gym, as a result Ash isn't initially interested in staying but Brock steps in and says it's a good time to replenish their stocks of antidotes, potions etc as they've run out. So they decide to go and stock up and get something to eat, in the meantime they are being followed by Jessie and James who are watching from the bushes, and Meowth seems sick. Jessie and James were about to leave a badly fevered Meowth on his own so they could chase Ash and Gang when a woman confronts them about leaving their sick Pokemon, she then makes a herbal remedy there and then to make Meowth feel better and it quickly rectifies his fever. The woman gives Jessie and James some pills to feed Meowth after each meal before departing off into the bushes. Meanwhile Ash and co enter a shop and ask a mysterious old woman if they can buy some stuff, after being briefly scared by her the same woman who told Jessie and James off arrives at the shop, her names Cassandra and she's the owner of the Pokemon Pharmacy, upon hearing that Ash and friends are trainers she challenges them to a Pokemon battle. Team Rocket continue watching from the trees as the group head out to battle.

Cassandra uses Paras, she wants Paras to battle lots so it will level up and evolve into Parasect, because with Parasects Mushroom she can make a new potion to help Pokemon all over the world. So the battle begins, a downbeat Paras vs. Pikachu, Ash goes notably easy and Pikachu instead of using thunderbolt delivers a tiny static shock, knocking Paras out. Ash and gang look up Paras in their dex and choose a Pokemon which is weak against it, sending Squirtle out again it. Paras gets back up, with Cassandra hopeful that the type advantage might help Paras win, even a tiny squirt of water from Squirtle knocks Paras down so Ash recalls him, Ash sends out his newly evolved Charmeleon and tells him to go easy, unfortunately Charmeleon goes wild and gives Paras a really good beating sending it running off crying into the woods where it bumps into Meowth. Ash and friends, plus Cassandra search for Paras but with no luck, she explains to them that the Miracle potion she aims to create using Parasects Mushroom will heal HP, and restore defence, attack and even make the Pokemon smarter and more determined!

Meowth hasn't forgotten what Cassandra did for him and actually acts to try and help Paras, asking Jessie and James to help, persuading them that Cassandra's success could make them all rich too as she'd owe them for the help. Meowth uses Arbok and Weezing to 'battle' Paras, while Jessie and James cheer him on, Meowth intervenes in each battle knocking out Arbok and Weezing and then Meowth. Paras now has newfound self confidence thanks to it's couple of wins and when Ash and gang catch up it challenges Pikachu to battle. Ash tells Pikachu to go easy, but paras stick his claw in Pikachu's tail, Pikachu was about to thunderbolt it but then Ash reminds it to go easy and Pikachu pretends to lose. Ash sends out Charmeleon, who completely disobeys him, Ash tries to recall Charmeleon who ignores him and attacks Paras. Team Rocket appear and start cheering for Paras, bolstering it's confidence further, Charmeleon doesn't care for their cheers and incinerates them, just before he incinerates Paras one poke of Paras' claw into Charmeleon knocks him over and Paras evolves into Parasect! Charmeleon gets back up and throws Team Rocket away into the sunset, Charmeleon approaches Parasect to attack again but gets put to sleep by Parasect before returning.

Ash and friends say goodbye to Cassandra and her rather creepy grandmother and head off on their journey.
episode045 11133 E# 45

J# 47
E# 45

J# 47
"The Song of Jigglypuff"

"Utatte! Purin!" (うたって! プリン!)
(Sing! Purin!)
February 20, 1999

May 21, 1998
After travelling through a vast desert, Ash, Misty and Brock see a town of lights in the distance and shortly after they arrive in Neon Town, a place where theres action 24/7 and it never closes. Ash bumps into someone and they nearly start a fight on him, Officer Jenny turns up and even she has a short temper; explaning that everyone here is angry and on edge because they never get any sleep because it's always so noisy, before having to run off and break up yet another fight. The next day Ash and co wake up to find people still fighting each other in the streets, and they head out into the forest where they bump into a Jigglypuff. Misty has always wanted one so she attacks, Jigglypuff then starts to cry, Misty stops attacking and asks Jigglypuff to sing for them. However Jigglypuff says it can't sing. Team Rocket are watching in the bushes as always and plotting to use the Jigglypuff to put everyone in Neon Town to sleep so they can steal their Pokemon, TR then confront Ash and gang and the battle ensues, with Team Rocket being defeated shortly after.

Misty begins trying to give Jigglypuff singing lessons in the forest but to no avail, the gang continue walking through the forest where Brock finds a fruit that is known to heal the throat and suggests it might help Jigglypuff, and it does! Jigglypuff eats it and then begins to sing a short verse. Misty asks Jigglypuff to sing a a song for them, and Jigglypuff obliges, putting everyone to sleep in the process. Team Rocket overhear the song and start to record it, with a view to playing it back and putting everyone in Neon Town to sleep with it. Jigglypuff becomes quite furious when everyone falls asleep during it's performance and decorates the sleeping people and Pokemon's faces accordingly. When the group regains consciousness they find Jigglypuff isn't very happy because people slept throughout it's performance, so they try to listen again but to no avail! Team Rocket play back their recording but it fails to capture Jigglypuff's song and only got loud snoring. Meanwhile Ash and Co head back into Neon town and look for somewhere with a Stage for Jigglypuff to play its song, just then a couple of suspiciously familiar looking rocker dudes appear and say that Ash and co can use their stage.

Jigglypuff performs on the stage in the middle of the town, putting all the townsfolk and revellers to sleep, much to the fury of Jigglypuff who pulls out it's marker and goes wild on everyone who disrespected its musical mastery. The next day everyone wakes up after the first good sleep they've had in a long time, covered in marker, refreshed and a lot nicer. Jessie, James and Meowth tried to stay awake during the performance by using earplugs so they could rob everyone, but the earplugs didn't work and they too wake up, their plan failed, but feeling happy and refreshed! Our heroes leave Neon town a nicer, friendlier place and continue their journey, with Jigglypuff close behind them.
episode046 11134 E# 46

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E# 46

J# 48
"Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon"

"Fukkatsu!? Kaseki Pokemon!" (ふっかつ!? かせきポケモン!)
(Resurrected!? Fossil Pokémon!)
February 27, 1999

May 28, 1998
Ash and his friends find themselves in beautiful Grandpa Canyon, where they discover a large archaeology expedition taking place. Ash is deliberating what might be happening when Gary turns up in full archaeology gear and gives him some abuse for not knowing anything, explaining that this event is called the Great Fossil Rush, lots of people digging up newly discovered Pokemon fossils. Jigglypuff is still following in the background but doesn't quite catch up to the group. Lots of people are digging in the Canyon and Gary discovers an "amazing Pokemon fossil", only to be corrected by an archaeologist moments later and told it's actually Pokemon Manure. Meanwhile Ash and gang spot Meowth, Jessie and James arriving at the site. They've already set up explosives to try and blow chunks out of the Canyon and reveal fossils, with the fuse to the explosives burning away Ash and squirtle try to stop the explosion but to no avail. The whole group incl Ash and friends + Team Rocket then find themselves caught in the blast from the explosives, with Ash and Team Rocket ending up buried in an underground cavern and Ash, Squirtle and Misty trying to uncover the rocks.

Ash, Pikachu and Team Rocket wake up in an underground cavern and start exchanging blame as to whose fault it is that they're down there. All of a sudden red eyes appear in the darkness and soon later it turns out they are surrounded by the ancient Pokemon; Omanyte, Omastar, Kabuto and Kabutops. Jessie and James are excited to catch these rare Pokemon and take them to the boss, but the Pokemon have other ideas and look particularly furious after being rudely awoken by dynamite after thousands of years asleep. Ash and Team Rocket try to battle the advancing Pokemon, Ash's Charmeleon ignores his commands and the ancient Pokemon chase the whole group through the underground caverns. Meanwhile Misty and Brock tell Officer Jenny of the situation and that their friend is buried beneath the rocks, she goes to get help and Geodude comes out to help dig out the rocks. Ash, Pikachu, Team Rocket and their Pokemon are being attacked still and just as a couple of Kabutops close in on Ash and Pikachu all the ancient Pokemon start to run away, Ash and TR take a moment to contemplate what happened when all of a sudden another ancient Pokemon flies out, a huge Aerodactyl, it kicks Charmeleon off it's rock straight onto the ground and attacks the group. Charmeleon, angry that Aerodactyl attacked it now wants to battle but is overpowered by Aerodactyl quickly. Aerodactyl grabs Ash and takes flight just as Misty and co open up the caves entrance, Charmeleon and Pikachu grab on too and Aerodactyl flies out of the cave, Pikachu and Charmeleon being dropped off at the caves entrance. Aerodactyl looks as if its about to eat Ash when an angry Charmeleon challenges Aerodactyl, Aerodactyl taunts him resulting in Charmeleon being so angry it evolves into Charizard so that it can battle Aerodactyl!

Aerodactyl is about to take a huge chunk out of Ash when it spots Charizard flying straight at it, Aerodactyl grabs Ash and flies off, Charizard in pursuit firing flames at Aerodactyl (and inadvertantly hitting Ash). Misty begs Jigglypuff to sing, and it does, putting both everyone to sleep, Charizard resists the song for as much as it can and manages to hold on just long enough to save Ash. Aerodactyl falls back into it's underground cave and Charizard and Ash land safely, Ash is clutching a mysterious egg. To prevent further such incidents, Officer Jenny commands people to stop talking about sightings of Ancient Pokemon and says it was all just an illusion caused by Jigglypuffs song, she forbids any further digging in the Canyon and tells everyone to be on there way. The heroes leave Grandpa Canyon and Ash reveals the Egg he found. Meanwhile Team Rocket are still trapped underground with the sleeping ancient Pokemon including Aerodactyl!
episode047 11135 E# 47

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E# 47

J# 49
"A Chansey Operation"

"Rakkī no Karute" (ラッキーのカルテ)
(Lucky's Clinical Records)
March 6, 1999

June 4, 1998
After getting knocked out of a tree while looking for apples Pikachu doesn't look right, it's voice is funny and its face is red. Ash and co try to work out whats wrong with him and decide they need to go to the nearest Pokemon Center, but unfortunately there isn't one for miles so they head to a hospital in the hopes someone there can help. They beg the doctor (who thinks Misty is the patient) for help, and Ash reveals that its Pikachu whose sick. The doctor says he can't help because it's a hospital not a Pokemon Center, after some begging Doctor Proctor agrees to help and does his best to diagnose Pikachu, finding that something is stuck in Pikachu's throat. The doctor realises there is low electric pressure in Pikachu's body and charges him with electricity, the doctor then reaches into it's mouth and retrieves a whole, unchewed apple and Pikachu seems OK. The doctor angrily tells Ash he was irresponsible for letting Pikachu eat the apple, meanwhile theres a phonecall taking place in the hospital but Doctor Proctor refuses to answer because he's off duty, and Ash answers instead, apparently theres been a big Pokemon emergency (which happened to involve Team Rocket), the Pokemon Center is completely full and many of the victims of the accident need to come to the Hospital.

The Doctor grudgingly agrees to help and asks Nurse Joy out, she angrily declines and Doctor Proctor gets Ash, Misty and Brock some uniforms ready so they can help out. The injured Pokemon begin arriving and the Doctor, Ash and Co and some Chanseys begin trying to treat Pokemon, with Misty appearing to be quite a natural. Team Rocket are also there while Arbok is being treated and Doctor Proctor immediately asks Jessie out for Pizza. Arbok is pretty sick, but Doctor Proctor manages to save it, and also charms Jessie (and err James?) into helping with the other Poképatients who just arrived. With Doctor Proctor, Team Rocket, Ash and friends all working together they manage to help lots of patients. Ash and Brock are trying to treat a particularly troubled, angry Dodrio with the help of Dr. Proctor when he is inadvertantly put under anaesethic and knocked out, leaving the treatment of patients in Ash's hands, he proceeds to viciously attack the Dodrio with Squirtle and Pikachu, knocking it out and untying its neck, then proceeding to use similar tactics to treat the other Pokemon.

Team Rocket then have a change of heart and decide that it should be easy to capture all the weak and injured Pokemon. They attack Ash, Misty and Brock with Robotic stretchers. Jessie and James are about to sedate our heroes when Chansey gets in the way, they order Arbok and Weezing to attack, but they won't do it, because Chansey helped them get better. Dr. Proctor then returns, Jessie throws something at him and he blocks it with lightning reflexes, the Chanseys rescue Ash and co from the stretchers and they then fire the stretches at Team Rocket, James has managed to steal one Pokemon however, a voltorb which self destructs and sends them blasting off once more. With the Pokemon treated, Ash and friends say goodbye to Dr. Proctor and are back on the road to adventure.
 episode048 11136 E# 48

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E# 48

J# 50
"Holy Matrimony!"

"Gādi to Kojirō" (ガーディとコジロウ)
(Gardie and Kojirou)
March 13, 1999

June 11, 1998
Ash continues his journey with Misty, Brock, Pikachu and their Eggscelent new companion when they come across a missing poster, with a picture of a young James on it, just then a posh car pulls up and the driver asks if they've seen the boy from the photo, Ash replies that they have if its James from Team Rocket, the driver bundles them into the car and rushes them to the Estate and it's revealed that he is infact James' Butler; Hopkins.

Meanwhile Team Rocket had been watching in the bushes, with Jessie noting that the kid in the picture looks like James. Jessie and Meowth want to head to the estate but James is reluctant. Ash and Co arrive within the huge grounds after eventually getting down the very long driveway, they are in true awe at the Mansion when the driver corrects them, the building they were looking at was the Doghouse belonging to Master James' (the missing boy) favourite Growlithe, the real Mansion was just behind it and much larger!

The gang go inside with the driver, where they find two coffins apparently it was Master James's parents who didn't have the strength to go on after he left. Jessie and James are eavesdropping and watching through a window getting excited at the thought of James inheriting the estate. But unfortunately there is a catch, James has to marry his Fiancé within 24 hours to claim his inheritance, or the lot gets given to charity. Team Rocket arrive shortly after, and start arguing amongst themselves, Jessie and James getting frustrated at James' reluctance to claim his estate and become rich. James has some flashbacks of being a young boy, him and Growly walking in the snow, hungry until young James collapsed and died, clearly he misremembered it, because he isn't dead. James still absolutely does not want to get married but Jessie and Meowth are intent that he does, they wear invisible suits and force him into the building. At that point laughter can be heard from the coffins, his parents jump out and are very much alive, they'd set the whole thing up to get him home. Preparations begin immediately and against James' will for his wedding, his parents stating that he is the heir and has a duty to marry and continue the family line. They then reveal his wife to be, Jessebell, who looks exactly like Jessie but is more softly spoken.

James still doesn't want to marry and Jessie and Meowth pressure him to do it for the Team, meanwhile Ash and co are peering through the door watching the whole thing unfold and wondering why it seems like no one can see Jessie and Meowth, even though they're right in front of their eyes. Jessebell suggests that her and James go down to the vault to count all the money he'll inherit, Ash and gang discreetly following. It turns out Jessebell and co could actually see Jessie and Meowth the whole time, and they are all led into a gym more than a vault, where his parents are waiting and Jessebell is now armed with a whip. The parents and Jessebell surround Team Rocket, Jessie drops a smokebomb and her and Meowth escape, leaving James being chased around a room by a whip-wielding-Jessebell who vows to never let him get away, she knocks him to the ground with a whip and then uses her Vileplumes stun spore to stop him from escaping. Ash and co along with Jessie and Meowth are also knocked out and then removed from the Mansion by Hopkins where they overhear Growlithe trying to get out of the doghouse (Smaller mansion) and open the door for it. Growlithe bursts into the main mansion and runs to the aid of his master, Jessebell orders Vileplume to attack but Growly gets James and rescues him, everyone takes sanctuary in Growly's doghouse and James reveals that Jessebell is the reason he ran away, when they got engaged initially she followed him about trying to change and correct everything he did, so he ran away. As he's telling the story Vileplume and Jessebell burst in, she orders a stunespore attack but Growly incincerates it and then Pikachu sends them packing. Jessebell flees the mansion, knocking James' parents into the pond in the process.

James tells Growly to look after his parents and bids him a sad farewell. Meanwhile Jessie and Meowth are walking away thinking that James has quit Team Rocket but he catches them up and they leave together. Ash and gang are chased out of town by Jessebell who wants them to help her find James.

Trivia: James gets amnesia when he falls off the roof and hits his head, and mentions it's all a blur and all he remembers is flunking out of Pokemon Tech (PokéTech) and joining a Bicycle gang. References to events we saw in Episode #9 and episode #35 respectively.
episode049 11137 E# 49

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E# 49

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"So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd"

"Kamonegi no Kamo" (カモネギのカモ)
(Kamonegi's Easy Mark)
March 20, 1999

June 18, 1998
Ash and his friends have been on the road for quite a while now, so they decide to take a little break in a beautiful Meadow. Ash and Brock discuss the rumour that a Farfetch'd has been seen nearby before going to get some water from a spring, leaving Misty looking after their stuff, a few moments after they leave Misty see's Farfetch'd marching toward he who puts on quite a show.

Misty decides to try and capture Farfetch'd in the absence of Ash and Brock but it starts to run off, Misty gives chase and Farfetch'd seems to be taunting her, leading her deeper into the woods. Misty runs straight into someone, he apologises to her and then runs off. Upon reaching the group again Misty explains that she went after Farfetch'd, much to the disgust of Ash and Brock who suspect she'd been sneaking around trying to do so the whole time, she then finds the contents of her bags had been exchanged for rocks, obviously by the guy she ran into!

The trainer and Farfetch'd are walking in the woods celebrating that they stole all of Misty's Pokemon, and they return to their camp in the woods where they have a cache of goods and Pokemon stashed that they stole from other trainers. They see Team Rocket in the distance and decide to try a similar trick, the trainer asks Team Rocket if they want to trade for his Farfetch'd and also offers to sell Misty's Pokemon. Keith (the owner of Farfetch'd) then leads Team Rocket to a boat on a river and asks them to watch over his PokéBalls and his Farfetch'd while he goes to get something that he forgot. Team Rocket steal the boat, the bag and Farfetch'd and start escaping down the river, but then the boat Keith rigged starts to take on water quickly, Farfetch'd laughs and then flies away leaving Team Rocket to sink, their own Pokéballs float out of their pockets and Farfetch'd arrives to steal Arbok and Weezing and beat Meowth with it's leek before laughing and running off again.

Keith and Farfetch'd celebrate yet another succesful heist, meanwhile Misty and co are telling Officer Jenny that she must have lost her bag in an accident, but she tells them it's no accident and that the kid and his Farfetch'd have been doing it a lot, but she can't track them down. It's revealed that Keith found Farfetch'd injured and nursed him back to health, shortly after that they started stealing, but it's also revealed that he wishes there was another way that they could get by, but that they are too weak to battle. Psyduck does its usual trick and comes out of it's Pokéball without being told to do so and wanders off into the forest, Team Rocket are searching for Keith out for revenge, Ash and co along with Officer Jenny are also searching when Psyduck finds them. Misty tries to get info from Psyduck on which way to go, but doesn't get a lot of sense. Keith and Farfetch'd pack up their camp and are about to start walking away when Team Rocket land in their balloon, Keith offers them their own Pokemon back, but they want more, so Keith offers them all of them and his apologies. Team Rocket fly off in their balloon with their haul of Pokéballs, as Keith's waving them off Ash and co find Keith and Farfetch'd who are now under arrest. Officer Jenny suggests a Pokemon battle to teach him how hard raising Pokemon is, Keith insists Farfetch'd is too weak but Farfetch'd wants to fight. Farfetch'd takes a beating from Bulbasaurs vine whip but then uses its agility and Leek attacks and manages to win. Keith sees that Farfetch'd actually has attacks and powers and says if he knew he wouldn't have ever used it to steal. Psyduck is the only Pokemon Misty has and it steps up to battle, Farfetch'd hits Psyduck on the head over and over, resulting in Psyduck beating Farfetch'd with a powerful psychic attack.

Meanwhile Team Rocket open the Pokéballs, to find that it was all Voltorb and start throwing them out of the balloons, exploding by Keith, Ash and co + Officer Jenny. Keith admits it was wrong to steal, and to not believe in Farfetch'd, he returns all the stolen goods and Pokemon, no one presses charges against Keith as everyone got their stuff back, and he and Farfetch'd set out on their own Pokemon journey.
episode050 11138 E# 50

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"Who Gets to Keep Togepi?"

"Togepī wa Dare no Mono!?" (トゲピーはだれのもの!?)
(Whose Is Togepy!?)
March 27, 1999

June 25, 1998
Ash and his friends are in for a surprise at this small town Pokemon Center. Ash has a message waiting for him from Professor Oak who wants Ash to call him, and he does. Muk mounts Professor Oak during the call, but the Prof manages to evade Muk long enough to tell Ash about the updated PokéDex software. Ash places his Dex in the machine and Oak transmits the data, PokéDex upgraded!

The friends then sit and eat while they plan where to go next, they decide on Cinnibar Island before discussing when the Pokemon egg might hatch and what it might be, Team Rocket listening in of course the whole time. TR then dress up as Pokemon egg sellers, and ask to see the gangs egg, they then mix it up with their own eggs and reveal their true identities. While Ash and Brock try to work out which egg is theirs, it turns out Meowth has the real one and Team Rocket run off with it, sitting at a Cabin in the woods discussing what to do with it. Meowth cares for the egg to try and hatch it at the Cabin, sleeping alongside it as Brock did, bathing it in warm water and stuff. Meanwhile Ash and gang follow a trail of dropped false eggs, eventually finding Team Rocket's hideout in the woods.

They look through the window to see James serving everyone scrambled eggs, but then they see that their egg is still OK and they attack Team Rockets hideout with their Pokemon. Pidgeotto, Geodude and Staryu burst in and Pidgeotto takes back the egg. A battle ensues and the egg is nearly dropped, with Pikachu narrowly saving it. The egg begins to hatch, Misty rushes over and grabs the egg to see it hatch, the Pokemon immediately assumes Misty to be it's mother. Everyone including Team Rocket is excited to see the egg, but then they decide they want to battle. Pikachu shocks them, and Ash and friends escape the cabin. They discuss which of them gets to keep Togepi, the newly hatched Pokemon. Misty decides she should keep the egg because Togepi likes her best. Meowth turns up and says he raised the egg and Togepi should be his, Ash suggests a battle and a six way tournament is arranged but Meowth then states Jessie and James have no right to participate as they didn't help to raise the egg.

A four way tournament begins between Ash, Misty, Brock and Meowth. Round 1 is Brock and his Onix vs. Meowth, although disadvantaged Meowth keeps fighting for Togepi, using water to weaken Onix and then hitting with fury swipes and actually winning! Round 2 is Ash vs. Misty, Ash chooses his Bulbasaur and Misty accidentally chooses Psyduck, Ash commands Bulbasaur to tickle and lick Psyduck to ensure it doesn't get a headache, Ash and Bulbasaur quickly render Psyduck unable to battle and win. The final battle for Togepi is Ash and Pikachu vs. Meowth, Meowth being quickly defeated by Pikachu's electric attacks. Ash is declared the winner of Togepi, but Togepi doesn't seem to want to go to anyone else. Just then Ash's Pokedex states "Togepi is imprinted with the image of the first person it see's, thinking it to be it's mother". So who gets to keep Togepi? Misty does, for some reason.
episode051 11139 E# 51

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"Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden"

"Fushigidane no Fushigi na Hanazono" (フシギダネのふしぎのはなぞの)
(Fushigidane's Mysterious Flower Garden)
April 3, 1999

July 2, 1998
Ash marches onward toward Cinnibar Gym, hoping to win his 7th badge, but on the way he bumps into another trainer who wants to battle. This gruff old trainer sends out Rhyhorn which charges Bulbasaur with a takedown, Bulbasaur tries to get a leech seed off but isn't quick enough, Bulbasaur is badly hurt but won't quit, Ash tells it to return but it won't have it. Bulbasaur avoids the next attack and hits the Rhyhorn with Razorleaf and Vine whips, winning the battle. Bulbasaur is lying on the ground after the battle, it's bulb glowing strangely and Ash is worried that he might be sick, taking him to see Nurse Joy.

Nurse Joy takes Bulbasaur in for an examination, she seems to have a suspicion whats wrong but won't comment til she checks it out. Joy emerges from the E.R and tells Ash that Bulbasaur is getting ready to Evolve. They peer out of the window to see all the flowers outside the Pokemon Center blooming and sparkling, Nurse Joy speaks of a Mysterious Garden nearby and Bulbasaur listens in. During the night Bulbasaur sneaks out of the Pokemon Center, with only Pikachu noticing him leave. Pikachu follows Bulbasaur and watches it get picked up by lots of other Bulbasaur who start carrying him off, Pikachu gives chase and is about to drop some thunder into them but Bulbasaur tells him to go back and get Ash etc instead which he does, the gang get up and find Bulbasaur missing.

Meanwhile Team Rocket are walking around nearby, indicated by the sparkling blooms in the forest, plotting once more to steal Pikachu, they then notice the group of Bulbasaur carrying Ash's Bulbasaur and while they prepare to capture them they get Vine Whipped into oblivion and blast off once more. Ash, Misty and Brock give chase after Bulbasaur following the trail of pollen, lots of vines start to rapidly grow to close up the Mysterious Garden and it becomes apparent why no ones ever seen it before. They reach a clearing and look down into a Valley seeing hundreds of Bulbasaur, and the pollen gathering at an old tree, which then bursts into life itself, a huge banging sound is heard from within the tree and a Venusaur then emerges. Ash spots his Bulbasaur and is about to shout it, but Brock stops him because human beings aren't supposed to be here. The Bulbasaur's begin to chant Saur with the Venusaur and many of them start to evolve into Ivysaur. Meanwhile Team Rocket are outside trying to break through the vines with axes before being chased away. With all of the Bulbasaur now evolved into Ivysaur, except Ash's which seems to be struggling, almost like it's trying not to evolve, the Venusaur spots this and has a seemingly angry word with him, the other Ivysaur seem to be getting really angyry with im. Venusaur attacks Bulbasaur with his vine whips but Ash gets in the way and blocks it. Ash apologises to Venusaur and the Ivysaur for bursting in on their festival, but tells them they have no right to force him to evolve, it seems that Venusaur and all the Ivysaur accept what Ash has said.

Team Rocket then arrive in their Hot Air Balloon and start trying to snatch all the Ivysaur with a suction device, Venusaur manages to save a small minority of them before Team Rocket turn up the suction to even grab Venusaur. The gang decide an electric attack is no good because it will hurt all the Pokemon they've captured. Team Rocket see that only Ash's Bulbasaur is left and laugh at it, stating they don't want to capture a puny Bulbasaur, this aggravates Bulbasaur somewhat and it begins charging it's first ever Solar Beam attack, destroying Team Rockets balloon and freeing his peers, before unleashing a razor leaf to break the bag they were held in. Team Rocket land in the middle of the festival and are attacked by Bulbasaur, the group of Ivysaur and Venusaur, they blast off once more. Venusaur approaches Bulbasaur and they shake vine whips in friendship. The Mysterious Garden disappears once more, the Ivysaur and Venusaur depart into the woods and Ash and his friends wave them goodbye. Bulbasaur remains Bulbasaur and doesn't want to evolve, for now.
episode052 11140 E# 52

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"Princess vs. Princess"

"Gekitō! Pokemon Hinamatsuri" (げきとう! ポケモンひなまつり)
(Fierce Fighting! Pokémon Girls' Festival)
September 4, 1999

July 9, 1998
The Princess Festival, Misty and Jessies favourite festival has begun and Ash, Brock and James find themselves carrying lots of bags and being dragged around lots of sales. All women and girls during this festival even get to eat for free, Misty indulges in a feast of desserts while Ash and Brock (who have to pay) just have an orange juice!

Jessie buys lots of gifts for herself, but also buys some for the boss so he doesn't sack them for a while longer. A Lickitung appears from the bushes and begins eating all the food products that Jessie bought for the boss, it then tries to eat her clothes but spits them back out. Jessie attacks Lickitung with Arbok, but Arbok is quickly defeated. Jessie captures Lickitung in a PokéBall and heads back to the sales where she and Misty both take a liking to the same garment, and decide to battle over who gets to keep it, before a rather large frightening woman takes it off both of them. The Queen of the Princess festival contest is announced, and there is a beautiful one of a kind collection of Pokemon dolls to be won, Jessie and Misty use the festival to decide their dispute.

The contestants are all dressed up and preparing to compete with both Jessie and Misty looking very nice, it's then announced that they'll have to battle to win. Misty begs Ash and Brock to use their Pokemon in the competition, Pikachu agrees to help, she explains that she never had her own dolls when she was a kid, she just got her sisters broken old handmedowns, and she never truly had anything of her own, thats why she wants to win so badly. Misty uses Ash's Bulbasaur and Pikachu alongside Brocks Vulpix plus her own Pokemon to enter the competition. Misty kicks off using Ash's Bulbasaur against a competitors Kingler, quickly beating it and all the Pokemon that follow. Meanwhile in the other division Jessie is starting her own campaign to win the dolls, utilising Meowth against Primeape, who is quickly beaten. Arbok then poisons the Primeape and she claims victory. Misty continues her success in the other division and has won a place in the finals, Jessie also reaches the finals and it's time for a showdown to see who can win the dolls. Jessie reminisces about why she hated the Princess Festivals so much, because she was the only girl who never had a Princess Doll and that the Princess Festival just reminds her of things she never had.

The final battle begins, Jessie's Arbok vs. Pikachu, who quickly defeats Pikachu, Arbok and Weezing.... it looks like it's over but Meowth reminds Jessie she has the Lickitung she caught earlier and she sends it out to battle, it paralyzes Pikachu with a lick attack and knocks him out. Ash advises Misty to use Bulbasaur next as it's vinewhip can stop the tongue attack, Bulbasaur however is defeated too, she then sends in Vulpix which is also knocked out before it can attack, Misty sends out her final Pokemon; intended to be Staryu, but she gets Psyduck, who seems immune to Lickitungs attacks. Psyduck is unable to attack, Jessie orders a tackle attack to finish it but Lickitung doesn't listen, Lickitung continues to attack Psyduck's head with the lick attack, giving Psyduck a headache so bad it uses its Psychic powers to win the match and send Team Rocket blasting off. Misty wins the Princess doll set and has the gyms sent back to the Cerulean Gym, stating that she'd like to see the look on her sisters faces. Jessie meanwhile is crying in the woods, Lickitung tries to lick her to console her, but to no avail.
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"The Purr-fect Hero"

"Kodomo no Hi da yo! Zen'in Shūgō!" (こどものひだよ! ぜんいんしゅうごう!)
(It's Children's Day! Everyone Come Together!)
September 11, 1999

July 9, 1998
Our heroes are continuing on their journey to Cinnibar Island where Ash hopes to earn his 7th badge on the path to the Pokemon League. They spot some Pokemon banners in the distance and head over to investigate, turns out it's Ash's favourite day of the year; Kids day.

After some persuasion from Misty its decided that they will play all day, just then they are approached by a teacher who says they must be the Pokémon trainers and that she's been waiting for them, she then gets a call from the trainers she's actually been waiting for and they say they can't make it, she says the kids will be really disappointed that they don't get to play with any Pokémon. Brock volunteers Ash, Misty, Brock and their Pokemon to go and play with the kids. Team Rocket are watching in the bushes and scheming, except James who is reminiscing about his kids days eating Ice Cream sandwiches and swimming in his Olympic size pool, Jessie who never experienced such good fortune looks disgusted.

Meanwhile the play has begun, with the kids pulling and grabbing at Pikachu until it wants to shock them, The Teacher shouts at the kids to get them back into control and Ash sends out his Pokemon, Misty and then Brock do the same and the kids all enjoy playing with the Pokemon, the Pokemon even seem to be having fun. One kid however is stood on his own looking sad, Little Timmy just wants to meet Meowth, because one day he was playing in the woods and a Beedrill attacked him but a Meowth saved him.

The other kids tell Timmy he is a liar and dismiss the story. Some mysterious entertainers arrive advertising the worlds greatest pokemon Magic show, saying that its free. The kids all rush to watch the magic show, The magicians say they're going to make a Pokemon disappear, a Pikachu! They place Pikachu into the box, perform some magic, and a Meowth pops out instead, they then finish their show and reveal their true identities as Team Rocket but are promptly swarmed by the kids who grab all their stuff and their Pokemon. Weezing drops a smokescreen, Timmy dives on Meowth to save him from the smoke, and the box is knocked over, letting Pikachu out. Team Rocket escape with the box, thinking Pikachu to be still inside, but find Timmy there instead. Timmy is initially upset, but then sees Meowth and mistakes him for the heroic Meowth who saved him that day. Jessie and James convince Meowth to play along, and tell him not to speak, as he'll give away his true identity, Jessie and James advance on Timmy in a staged attack and Meowth "saves" Timmy.

Just as Ash and co are about to go in search of Timmy he returns to the school with Meowth in tow, stating that Meowth came back to save him again. Timmy's friends apologise to him for calling him a liar and all the kids begin playing with Meowth. Meowth says "thats right" and Misty hears it, suspecting it to be Team Rocket's Meowth, Meowth is about to run off and the kids beg him to stay, Meowth still runs off, with Timmy, Ash and Co, and the kids in pursuit until they find a dead-end, which is a trap set by Team Rocket. Jessie and James attack with Arbok and Weezing, Ash sends out Pidgeotto and Brock joins in with Onix. Pidgeotto gets rid of Weezing's Smokescreen and Onix saves Pidgeotto from Arbok, but a giant boulder rolls down the hill on a path for everyone, just as it's about to hit Ash and Timmy, the wild Meowth appears and kicks the big boulder, breaking it into bits! Team Rocket roll away into the distance atop a boulder. Timmy adopts the wild Meowth and tells Ash he wants to become a Pokemon Trainer when he grows up. The teacher says goodbye, and our heroes continue on their journey.
episode054 11142 E# 54

J# 56
E# 54

J# 56
"The Case of the K-9 Caper!"

"Keisatsuken Gādi" (けいさつけんガーディ)
(Gardie the Police Dog)
April 10, 1999

July 16, 1998
Today our heroes find themselves travelling through the forest, heading toward Cinnibar Island, the site of Ash's next Pokemon challenge when all of a sudden they hear someone shout "Stop Thief!" and see an ominous looking guy with a traditional looking bag of swag and a gun, Jigglypuff is also nearby. Ash orders Pikachu to attack, but Pikachu is too scared because he has a gun, a Growlithe comes out of the bushes and takes the thief down, disarming him, Pikachu then shocks the thief, but the Growlithe then surround Ash and friends.

To Ash and friends surprise, Officer Jenny and some other police officers rush over to help the thief and it turns out the whole thing was a police training exercise and the thief was infact not a thief at all. Officer Jenny tells the Growlithe that Ash and co are their new friends and commands them to greet them, meanwhile Team Rocket are watching on thinking how great it would be to get their hands on a load of police trained Pokemon.

Ash and friends head back to the police compound and have something to eat and drink. Officer Jenny advises against using Pokemon who aren't police trained against armed suspects, Ash asks Officer Jenny to train Pikachu the way she trains the Growlithe. The next morning a gruelling 4am training session begins, for both Ash and Pikachu. Ash and Pikachu race Jenny and Growlithe and are doing quite well until they run into their first obstacle, a mesh which they have to climb under. Next they have to get over a high wall, Ash nearly does it but falls on Pikachu and gets a shock for his trouble. Brock asks if Ash and Pikachu are still going to continue with the training and Ash says yes, just then a Growlithe coloured truck crashes through the wall of the police compound, it's Team Rocket. The Growlithe surround Team Rocket who then use a special gas called their Oesoph-a-gas and gas all the Growlithe, Officer Jenny and friends, they then spray a different spray which makes everyone sound like Chipmunks. The Growlithe are as a result not responsive to Jenny's commands, and their sense of smell isn't working either. They then get into Officer Jenny uniforms (yes, even James) and use a voice synthesiser to sound like Officer Jenny, giving the command for them to place her under arrest. The Growlithe tie her up, Team Rocket then command all the Growlithe into the van. Ash and gang try one more time to stop them, but Jessie commands the Growlithe to surround them, they don't even have their Pokemon there to battle with, except Pikachu who turns up at the last minute with the Growlithe advancing. Jessie puts on an Ash style cap, changes the voice synthesiser to Ash's voice and commands Pikachu to get into the van, but Pikachu isn't fooled. Jessie tells the Growlithe to attack, Pikachu shocks the first wave and the rest attack, Pikachu shocks wave after wave of them but is too tired to continue.

Now surrounded by even angrier Growlithe, things look bad, until Jigglypuff shows up and begins its song briefly before leaving, Jenny gets free and tells the Growlithe to stop, Team Rocket command the Growlithe to attack her, one bites her hand, but when it looks into her eyes it remembers who she is and how she raised and cared for it, it licks her hand and then with it's Growlithe peers attacks Team Rocket. Meowth doesn't fancy being attacked by an army of Growlithe and drives off, leaving Jessie and James to get chewed on by the Growlithe as they too flee.

With the Growlithe now back under the command of Officer Jenny, Ash coming to the realisation that Pikachu is strong in it's own way and doesn't need to train with the K-9 Squad the heroes bid goodbye and continue on their journey.
episode055 11143 E# 55

J# 57
E# 55

J# 57
"Pokémon Paparazzi"

"Shattā Chansu wa Pikachū" (シャッターチャンスはピカチュウ)
(Shutter Chance Pikachu)
April 17, 1999

July 23, 1998
Everyone is enjoying some of Brocks finest Rice balls, completely unaware that they are being watched that is until the light reflects of the strangers camera lens, Ash spots it and assumes its a gun and knocks his friends to the ground for cover. This makes Togepi cry and ruins the rice balls Brock was making, Ash tells them he saw someone, Misty and Brock don't believe him, Ash calls out Squirtle and fires a watergun into the bushes, revealing a Pokemon Photographer called Snap.

Snap declares himself to be the #1 Pokemon Photo Masker, errr I mean Master. He takes them back to his home, where he gives them some Tea and explains he is the photographer who got the only known picture of an Aerodactyl. It's a silhouette picture of an Aerodactyl, taken at the time when it was carrying Ash away to eat him. Snap offers to make them all pancakes, and wants to photograph Pikachu eating them. Snap keeps trying to take pictures of Pikachu, who becomes scared and or annoyed and shocks him. Snap declares he can't work like this, and that it isn't right to make Pokemon pose for pictures, and explains he likes to take natural pictures of wild Pokemon, showing Ash, Misty and Brock some of his photographs.

Ash, Misty and Brock send out all of their Pokemon so that he can take pictures of them, but Snap seem's intent on just taking pictures of Pikachu. It seems an elderly couple and their pet Meowth requested Snap to 'capture' Pikachu for them as their dying wish, but swore Snap to secrecy. This mystery old couple is of course Team Rocket, but they've got their wires crossed, they're expecting Snap to physically capture Pikachu, not capture it on film.

Snap continues trying to get a natural picture of Pikachu, but to no true avail as Pikachu doesn't like it's picture taken. Team Rocket in the meantime are digging a classic hole in the ground trap and then get back into their disguises. Snap apologises that he hasn't "taken that Pikachu for you yet" and finds the soft dirt where Team Rocket had been digging as a great place to take a picture of Pikachu, the gang approach and Ash falls straight into the trap, followed closely by Misty and Brock who quickly conclude it must be yet another Team Rocket trap. Snap comes to the top of the hole and starts trying to take pictures of Pikachu before he gives them the rope to rescue them. Snap notices the bottom of the pit crumbling and throws the rope, Ash and Pikachu fall through into fast flowing water leading to a sheer drop. Snap saves them with his camera and tripod, ruining his camera in the process, with Ash and Pikachu still hanging off the elderly couple who gave Snap the Pikachu capture job reveal their true identities as Team Rocket, grab Pikachu in a net and keep it in an electric proof bag and James starts throwing bombs at Ash and Snap. Ash uses snap's camera to distract Team Rocket long enough to get blown up by their own bomb, as they squabble amongst themselves Snap pulls Ash to safety and he sends Bulbasaur to attack, Team Rocket end up in the water and fall down a waterfall.

Misty and Brock arrive and to their surprise find Ash and Snap have become friends. He doesn't usually take pictures of humans but takes a picture to remember his new friends.
episode056 11144 E# 56

J# 58
E# 56

J# 58
"The Ultimate Test"

"Pokemon Rīgu Kenteishiken!?" (ポケモンけんていしけん!?)
(Pokémon League Certification Test!?)
April 24, 1999

July 30, 1998
The story begins with Misty questioning the fact that Ash hasn't had a badge in a while, he challenges her to a battle. Snap interrupts and asks Ask why he doesn't just pass the Pokemon League admissions exam to immediately qualify for the Pokemon League, just before they set off on the exams the guy tells Ash to hand in his Pokéballs as trainers can't use their own Pokemon during the practical exams. They find that the Nurse Joy from Fuschia City is also sitting the same exams, as well as a couple of suspiciously familiar looking people who Ash is sure he recognises, it is of course Team Rocket, and interestingly Jessie didn't seem to know James was going and vice-versa.

Meowth turns up and spots them both, and apparently they'd both rung in sick from Team Rocket for the day to do the exam, Jessie saying she was visiting her sick uncle and James said he was at the dentist.

Meanwhile inside Ash, Jessie and James begin their tests. James is struggling a little, Jessie is pressing true on everything with the theory she'll then get half right, and Ash too is pressing true quite a lot if in doubt. Jessie gets a bit angry that she isn't getting anything right, starts shouting and then is told to leave the test. At the end of the test the results show Nurse Joy is near the top, Jessie is expelled and Ash and James are right at the bottom of the results. Everyone heads outside for Exam 3, the Pokemon Battles, trainers have to select a random group of Pokeballs whilst not knowing whats inside, and they have to battle with whatevers inside. James starts his first battle and has a Pikachu as his first Pokemon, the League instructor sends out Graveller who isn't affected by Electric and defeats his Pikachu, James gets mad and sends out his remaining two Pokemon, breaking the rules nad getting expelled.

Ash faces the instructor and his Flareon, he sends out the first mystery Pokemon, and its Weezing! Having faced Team Rocket's Weezing over and over in the past he knows some of the attacks and manages to win. Next up he faces Jolteon, and sends out his next Pokemon which to his surprise is an Arbok, he starts well but looses when he tries to wrap Jolteon and falls victim to it's spikes, Ash is then defeated by a thundershock. Next up the instructor sends out Vaporeon, Ash draws a Meowth and is defeated quickly. Team Rocket's Meowth unfreezes the Meowth Ash used and attacks Ash, the exam man decides he'd like to capture the talking Meowth and throws a ball, which is blocked by the Vine Whips and Flames of TR's rented Charizard and Ivysaur. Team Rocket try to use the rental Pokemon against the exam man, but he takes command of them and uses them to send Team Rocket blasting off. Due to the interference with the exams everyone has to retake them, Ash is offered a second chance but turns it down to continue on his journey, meanwhile Team Rocket have left with the wrong Meowth and the talking Meowth of TR is left with the exam man.
episode057 11145 E# 57

J# 59
E# 57

J# 59
"The Breeding Center Secret"

"Sodate-ya no Himitsu!" (そだてやのひみつ!)
(The Secret of the Breeding Center!)
May 1, 1999

August 6, 1998
As our heroes take a break in their journey, Snap, their photographer friend decides to shoot a few Pokemon pictures, a weather report comes on the big screen above them stating good weather ahead followed by an ad for The 5 Star Breeding Center that makes some rather bold claims.

Ash and gang decide to go take a look at this amazing breeding center that makes such bold promises, and when they get there they find a massive queue of people waiting to deposit their Pokemon at the Breeding Center. Misty decides to leave Psyduck there to be levelled up and maybe even evolved by "Love Power". The group leaves Psyduck there and goes to find something to eat, finding a restaurant where its "All you can eat for free" and they conclude that there must be a catch, and there is! The chef wants to see his favourite Pokemon first.... Ash sends out all of his pokemon, but to no avail, Brock tries his and still no good, the same with Misty but still no. The Chef then reveals that his favourite Pokemon is Psyduck! Misty rushes to the Breeding Center to collect Psyduck so she can eat for free, but finds its closed.

Misty doesn't want to wait, and tries to find a way into the Breeding Center via the back door, she tries the door and its open, after asking if anyones there and not getting an answer the group walk in, to their shock they find caged Pokemon in cramped conditions in a dark room. The Breeding Center owners are in the next room filtering through the Pokemon to pick out the best ones. Ash and co overhear that it's a scam and that these guys are actually members of Team Rocket; Butch and Cassidy, they also see them communicating with Giovanni who wants to pick the choice Pokemon for themselves.

Meanwhile Snap takes pictures of the terrible conditions in the Breeding Center but Butch notices the cameras flash and comes into the room to investigate, the gang hide, and Pikachu goes in a cave and lets off sparks to make it look like it was he that caused the sparks. Unbeknown to everyone else, Jessie, James and Meowth have broken into the Pokemon Breeding Center with a view to stealing all the Pokemon there. As Ash, Misty and Brock confront Team Rocket the door opens and butch and Cassidy arrive and start taunting Jessie and James. Ash and co sneak out while its going on, Butch and Cassidy pursue them and trap Ash, Snap and Brock in a cage. Misty and Pikachu escape. Butch and Cassidy call the police, and Ash, Snap, Brock, Jessie, James and Meowth are all arrested for trying to commit burglary in the breeding center. Misty sets off to try prove her friends innocence, she dresses up in a disguise so butch and Cassidy don't recognise her and goes to get her Psyduck back, this buys Pikachu time to find Snap's camera and reveal the pictures to officer Jenny, who realises shes been tricked.

Jenny, Ash and friends arrive at the Breeding Center to catch Butch and Cassidy red handed, after a very short battle involving Cassidy's Raticate being thunderbolted by Pikachu the villains are apprehended and locked up. Ash and friends finally get to the restaurant with Psyduck and eat for free alongside officer Jenny, with Misty eating a years worth of Ice Cream to herself. Later on at a crossroad Ash and friends continue to Cinnibar Island, and say goodbye to Snap who instead chooses to take the mountain path so he can get some great photographs.
episode058 11146 E# 58

J# 60
E# 58

J# 60
"Riddle Me This"

"Moero! Guren Jimu!" (もえろ! グレンジム!)
(Burn! Guren Gym!)
September 18, 1999

August 13, 1998
Ash and his friends are on a ship sailing toward Cinnibar Island, a beautiful Island with a Volcano and one of the best Pokemon labs in the world. The journey is interrupted when they discover that Gary is on board who immediately starts ripping it out of Ash. Ash spots lots of others on the boat and worries that they might all be trainers, Gary quickly corrects him and says Pokemon Trainers haven't been challenging Cinnabar's Gym since their grandfathers days and that its more of a holiday resort, he's only going there to work on his tan.

Gary then tells Ash that Cinnibar Island has no gym, this only stiffens Ash's resolve to prove him wrong. Upon arrival however things are looking worryingly like a big tourist resort, and a strange man approaches Ash and his friends, asking them the answer to a riddle; "what do tourists think is hot and cool?", Ash's answer, although creative was incorrect but Misty got it right. The man explains that tourists have taken over Cinnibar Island and complained that trainers don't come anymore, Ash tells the man he really has to challenge the gym and find Blaine the gym leader, the man answers with the riddle "his gym is right where you put your glasses", Misty gets it again "right in front of your eyes" and the guy points out a collapsed, abandoned old building in front of them, the man then explains that Blaine got tired of battling tourists who cared more about T-Shirts and postcards then Pokemon battles and that he didn't have the heart to continue. The mysterious man gives the group his business card for 'The Big Riddle Inn' before departing.

The gang head out to take a look at the Famous Pokemon lab, but unfortunately that too appears to just be a glorified tourist attraction, they decide to call it a day and head to the Pokemon Center but it's already completely full because it's busy season, all the other hotels around are booked up for a year so it starts to look like another night in the sleeping bags for the tired travellers. Gary then appears from one of the hotels and taunts them, showing off his big feast, Gary said he'll throw them the leftovers if they spin around three times and say Pikachu, Ash won't do it. Jigglypuff shows up at Gary's hotel and starts singing, Ash and gang have already run off at this point, Gary and his fanclub are put to sleep by the song and are promptly drawn on by a furious Jigglypuff. Ash and Brock remember the card the mysterious man gave them for his hotel, but it's another riddle; "If you look near the swing, you'll see my hands, or at least my face"... Misty spots a clock on a building above them, and they go and check it out. Sure enough Misty has again come up with the correct solution and they've found the right place, for solving the riddle the mysterious man gives them free rooms at his inn for the night (and dinner).

The mysterious man gets a phonecall stating that the Pokemon lab is under attack by someone in a Hot Air Balloon. Ash and friends get there just in time to stop Team Rocket from stealing the Pokemon from the lab using Pidgeotto and Pikachu, The mysterious man then thanks Ash and tells him he deserves a reward, stating that Blaine built a gym that tourists never see and tells him its "in the place where firefighters could never win". While taking a bath in the hotsprings and contemplating where the gym could be Togepi climbs on a statue and reveals a secret entrance into the Volcano. It's burning hot inside there, at the end of a narrow corridor they find Blaines gym, and the mystery man who says "It's not a hat but it keeps your head dry, if you wear it, it's only because you already lost it", Misty again solves the riddle, its a Wig, the man removes his disguise and it's Blaine!

Blaine challenges Ash to a 3v3 battle and sends out Ninetales, Ash sends out Squirtle, whose water gun is overpowered by Firespin despite the type advantange, next Ash chooses Charizard and Blaine sends out Rhydon. Charizard refuses to respond to Ash's commands and is disqualified. Pikachu is sent up next but his electric is weak against Rhydons stone/ground body... Ash commands Pikachu to attack the Rhydons horn which acts as a lightning rod, amplifying the power of Pikachu's attack and defeating Rhydon. Blaine sends out his final Pokemon, Magmar which rises from the lava itself. Pikachu tries a thunderbolt but Magmar super heats the air around it, protecting it from electric, Pikachu is pushed to the edge of the arena with a sheer drop into the lava right behind it. Magmar uses Fire blast, the most powerful Fire attack, it heads towards Pikachu and the episode ends leaving us on a cliffhanger ending, almost literally.
episode059 11147 E# 59

J#  61
E# 59

J#  61
"Volcanic Panic"

"Kessen! Guren Jimu!" (けっせん! グレンジム!)
(Decisive Battle! Guren Gym!)
September 18, 1999

August 20, 1998
Pikachu is in real Pika-peril with a Fire Blast heading his way and nowhere to go but down. Pikachu crouches and misses the bulk of the blast, managing to survive with just a slightly burned back, Pikachu clings on and climbs back up, wanting to fight again but Ash surrenders and forfeits the match.

The group head to the hotsprings for the Pokemon to recover, Ash is intent on facing Blaine again but Misty and Brock try to talk him out of it. Meanwhile Team Rocket have also found the entrance to Blaines gym and enter it, fully intent on stealing Magmar. They use a special device to Freeze magmar and celebrate their success, unfortunately Magmar quickly defrosts, Team Rocket respond by panic freeze-blasting the whole place with their ice gun, causing some serious tremors in the Volcano.

Ash and co along with Blaine rush into the Volcano to investigate, Blaine tells them that freezing all the hot rock could result in a reaction deep within the Volcano. Rock is starting to crack within the Volcano, Lava will follow through the cracks and prompt a huge Volcanic eruption, risking the lives of everyone on the Island, and more immediately to Blaine, our heroes and Team Rocket. Blaines gym is destroyed and rock plates begin shifting, lava begins flowing and bursting through the cracks. Blaine commands Magmar to pile up rocks to block the lava flow, Ash calls out Charizard to help, Charizard decides it would be better to lie down.

Magmar continues to do its best to block the lava flow and briefly creates a damm of rock, which is destroyed by the lava. Charizard see's Magmars strength and how hard it works and decides at the last minute to help it block the lava flow, even if more to demonstrate its own strength then truly to help. Brock calls out Onix and Geodude to help too, and Misty and Ash call Staryu and Squirtle to use their water attacks to help keep everyone cool while they work (Except for Charizard and Magmar, who probably wouldn't appreciate it). Working together they manage to block the flow of lava and save Cinnibar Island.

Charizard and Magmar's eyes meet, and the mutual respect for one anothers strength is apparent. Blaine thanks everyone for their help and offers Ash another chance to try and win the Volcano badge, with the gym in the Volcano destroyed, they fight on the Volcano top itself which is where Blaine found Magmar. The battle is 1v1, and Charizard actually volunteers to battle to prove its strength against Magmar. Without even being commanded Charizard heads over to face Magmar, and the Pokemon are shown to be fairly evenly matched, Magmar gets on Charizards back and takes Charizard under the Volcano, Ash fears the worst and just then Charizard bursts out of the lava, with Magmar still attached to his back. Charizard flies high into the sky and uses its aerial submission attack sending Magmar's head spinning before performing a Seismic Toss, defeating Magmar and securing victory for Ash.

Blaine takes his wig off to Ash in congratulations, Charizard burns Ash to further demonstrate its power, and Ash is awarded the Volcano badge. Our heroes set off on the road to Viridian City.
episode060 11148 E# 60

J# 62
E# 60

J# 62
"Beach Blank-Out Blastoise"

"Kamekkusu no Shima" (カメックスのしま)
(Kamex's Island)
September 20, 1999

August 27, 1998
With Ash's seventh badge in hand our heroes are rushing to catch the last ferry from Cinnibar Island. As they run along the beach a Wartortle runs out in front of them and Ash goes straight into it, both of them falling over.

The Wartortle appears panic'd about something, Pikachu calls out Squirtle to interpret, after a brief chat between Squirtle and Wartortle, Squirtle puts on his shades and dives into the water. Ash and gang grab a boat and follow them, finding a small Island that a) Looks like a Squirtle shell and b) isn't even on the map. Little do they know they're all being followed by Team Rocket. The Wartortle and Squirtle arrive on the island closely followed by Ash and gang to find a huge amount of sleeping Squirtle and Wartortle as well as one giant sleeping Blastoise. Ash rushses over excited to see a Blastoise and hugs its shell, falling asleep himself, Squirtle listens to the shell and also falls asleep. Misty and Brock try to wake Ash up but to no avail, an electric shock from Pikachu wakes up Ash and all the Wartortle and Squirtle on the beach. Ash says he heard a weird, but kind of familiar music from Blastoise's shell.

Misty wants to leave but Ash says they aren't going anywhere until the Blastoise is awoken. The Wartortle communicate that Blastoise went for a swim in the ocean a few days before, and they found it floating and asleep, bringing it ashore, but all falling asleep shortly after themselves, thats when the Wartortle Ash bumped into fled the island and went to get help. Shortly after this being communicated Blastoise comes around but something is wrong with it, it's got a Jigglypuff stuck in one of it's cannons and this is whats been putting everyone to sleep, Jigglypuff sings again, putting everyone to sleep once more.

Team Rocket seize this oppurtunity to attack, Jessie and James staying on the sub at a safe distance and Meowth (on the end of a rope) heading ashore to tie a rope to Blastoise, Jigglypuff however is still singing and Meowth too falls asleep, Jessie and James reel him back in and try to wake him but can't, they decide to take matters into their own hands by using their Gyarados sub's grabber mechanism to grab Blastoise and escape. Ash wakes up to find Blastoise gone and wakes everyone else up in a panic, Squirtle water guns all the other Squirtle and Wartortle to get their attention, he gives them the plan to go and search for Blastoise and everyone agrees to follow it. Squirtle leads all the other Squirtle and Wartortle out to sea to search for Blastoise. Team Rocket meanwhile are in their sub celebrating victory and arguing about who gets credit for capturing Blastoise, while fighting over it they damage their sub and it starts taking on water, and just then they hear a rather relaxing and familiar tune, Jigglypuff begins to sing and puts them to sleep (he's still in Blastoises cannon), the sub starts to sink but is rescued by all the Squirtle and Wartortle who arrive just in time.

Team Rocket wake up back on shore being resucitated by Ash, Misty and Brock and are as ungrateful as always, still continuing to try and steal Pokemon with their subs mechanical grabbers. The Wartortle and Squirtle combine to try and repel the now amphibious sub with their water guns but it doesn't work and they have to turn and run, the sub is chasing them all around and Blastoise is still sleeping... until Pikachu and Squirtle attack it together to wake it up (nasty alarm right). Jigglypuff is knocked out and falls into Team Rockets sub, Blastoise awakens and is unsurprisingly angry about the situation. Blastoise overpowers and damages Team Rockets sub, before combining the power of his own waterguns with those of the Squirtle and Wartortle to send Team Rocket blasting off again. TR are consoled slightly after when Jigglypuff gives them a midair song before the sub plummets back before the depths, Squirtle rushes to save Jigglypuff and returns with it safely to shore. Jigglypuff gives one final encore and puts everyone back to sleep once more, before furiously decorating everyones faces for falling asleep during its performance.

The friends bid farewell to Blastoise, the Squirtle and Wartortle and leave the Island of Turtle Pokemon in peace.
episode061 11149 E# 61

J# 63
E# 61

J# 63
"The Misty Mermaid"

"Hanada Jimu! Suichū no Tatakai!" (ハナダジム! すいちゅうのたたかい!)
(Hanada Gym! Underwater Battle!)
September 23, 1999

September 3, 1998
Today we join Ash, Misty and Brock at the entrance to Viridian City where Ash intends to earn an Earth Badge, but Horsea looks sad, Brock thinks its because it doesn't get to swim in any big pools. Misty and co decide to take a brief detour from Ash's quest for badges and head to the Cerulean Gym to let Horsea enjoy some exercise in a big aquarium and she can also visit her sisters. When they get there it turns out that there are shows running out of the Cerulean Gym featuring underwater Ballet and Pokemon!

When Misty arrives her sisters jump on her straight away and say she got there just in time, then telling her she needs to start rehearsing. Misty offers to help with costumes or admin, but it's quickly revealed that her sisters want Misty to be the star of the underwater Ballet, the Misty Mermaid. After some persuasion Misty grudgingly agrees to do perform. Meanwhile Horsea is enjoying swimming in the big pool and rehearsals are about to begin for the Magical Mermaid.

Team Rocket are nearby and spot the adverts for the underwater Ballet, wanting to see it themselves, they then realise it's also a Pokemon show and decide it could be a good place to steal Pokemon from. The next day there are huge queues outside of the Cerulean Gym, its a massively succesful sell out!

Misty is backstage peering at the crowd and is kinda nervous. A huge Aquarium comes out, full of water Pokemon and the story begins, Misty the magical Mermaid making her appearance and putting on an impressive show. Meanwhile backstage Team Rocket capture two of Misty's sisters (Violet and Lillie), Daisy goes to get ready. Team Rocket come out as the villains instead of Misty's sisters but the audience assume it all to be part of the act, except Ash and Brock who get moving because they know its not right. Jessie and James go underwater and do their intro, meanwhile Meowth blows a hole in the ceiling and brings down the Balloon and Jessie and James catch all the water Pokemon in a net, Misty steps in to stop them. Daisy is then about to come in as the handsome Prince, not knowing that it's real villains they're dealing with and Ash, Brock and Pikachu jump in instead. Jessie sends out Arbok to attack them, Misty sends Horsea who puts up a smokescreen long enough for Seaking to get in and hit Arbok with Horn Drill, James tries to intervene with Weezing but it can't breath underwater. Misty's sisters send out her Psyduck to help, but unfortunately it can't breathe underwater, or swim. Meanwhile Seaking, Squirtle and Starmie fight Arbok who seems really strong underwater too and Seel steps in to protect them, putting on some amazing underwater agility before sending Arbok packing with an Aurora beam. This victory then making Seel evolve into Dewgong, the audience at this point still thinking its all part of the show are loving it.

Dewgong finishes off Arbok with an Ice Beam, freezing Jessie and James in the process. Ash and gang get all the water Pokemon safely out of the water before letting Pikachu thunderbolt Team Rocket who are still there, sending them all blasting off once more.

The audience loved every minute of it and the show was a great success, infact the Cerulean Gym sold out 6 months worths of shows just after. Misty leaves her Horsea under her sisters care so it can be in the shows and have a bigger place to swim. Ash and friends wave goodbye and head back toward Viridian City.
episode062 11150 E# 62

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E# 62

J# 64
"Clefairy Tales"

"Pippi Tai Purin" (ピッピVSプリン)
(Pippi vs. Purin)
September 25, 1999

September 10, 1998
Jigglypuff is walking through the forest at night singing, knocking out wild Pokemon as it goes and grafitti'ing their faces, when it notices a UFO crash to the ground, it approaches and the UFO's doors open revealing a large group of Clefairy.

The next day Ash and friends are on the way to Viridian City to challenge for Ash's 8th badge, but they stop for Ice Cream on the way. Just then a Clefairy approaches the group, Misty tries to capture it using her Ice Cream as bait, but it runs, Misty gives chase with the others just behind, but they left their backpack and Ice Cream behind and someone took it all. They return to find everything missing including the Ice Cream and decide to report the crime to Officer Jenny, but unfortunately shes got a queue, it seems theres been a massive crimewave. But Brock doesn't think it makes sense, people have had bottle caps, coat buttons, birthday candles etc stolen items that aren't really that valuable, a scientist named Oswald arrives and says he thinks its Aliens doing it, and that he has evidence, one of the UFO's in his scrap book was sighted 3 days ago which is when all the crime started!

Ash, Misty and Brock decide to join the search for the Alien suspects, seeing as they really need their stuff back anyway. Oswald uses a device to find them, just then a UFO lands directly in front of them, two aliens emerge and take Pikachu inside, then depart in their UFO but it turns out these were imposters, and it was just Jessie and James, their flying saucer wasn't even flying, it was just Meowth using a crane to lift it. Ash uses Pidgeotto to cut the crane cable and Team Rocket crash to the ground, As Team Rocket are about to attack a Clefairy turns up closely followed by Jigglypuff, Oswalds scanner goes off so he concludes that Clefairy, Jigglypuff and then even Misty are aliens, she doesn't take kindly to this and breaks his scanner. Clefairy steals Pikachu from Team Rocket and runs off, being chased by Jigglypuff and then by Ash and gang, leaving Team Rocket incapacitated after running into Clefairy's barrier. They arrive at a dead-end but Jigglypuff finds a manhole and removes the cover, Jigglypuff jumps in followed by Ash and then the others reluctantly join them. After sliding down a series of pipes they find an underground cave where the Clefairy are building a spaceship, it's then that they realise thats why they must be stealing such peculiar items, to use as parts for their ship. They then see the Clefairy with Pikachu and realise the Clefairy must be intending to use Pikachu's electric power to help launch the craft.

Ash and Misty (and Jigglypuff) go to get Pikachu, Oswald decides to go into space and Brock goes off to get Officer Jenny, Team Rocket have made it to the cave too and run aboard the ship hoping to steal Pokemon. Ash and friends reach Pikachu but a group of Clefairy block their path and refuse to give Pikachu back, Jigglypuff steps in and starts double slapping all the Clefairy, defeating all of them and departing, leaving Ash and co to rescue Pikachu.

Oswald and Jigglypuff reach the control center of the craft, and Jigglypuff challenges the Clefairy captain, a "fierce" battle ensues but unfortunately Oswald breaks the joystick on the control panel, which turns out to be Clefairy's microphone, and it all becomes apparent why Jigglypuff was attacking the Clefairy, it immediately bursts into song putting everyone in the cave to sleep. The launch countdown finishes while everyones asleep and launch begins, meanwhile Brock is trying and failing to convince Officer Jenny that Clefairy stole the items to build a space ship, a huge ramp appears from the street in front of them and the spacecraft comes flying out, dropping everyones missing items back to their owners in the process. The craft splits into two during the launch, Ash and Misty awaken, find their backpacks and try to abandon ship but they're too high, the ship is passing over a skyscraper and Ash uses Bulbasaurs vine whip to swing onto it's roof. The Clefairy fly away in their ship for a great big adventure, fishermen in another town witness another UFO crash down which contains Clefairy and Oswald and stuff starts going missing somewhere else!

Officer Jenny thanks Ash and his friends, who then wave goodbye and continue on their journey with Jigglypuff following behind.
episode063 11151 E# 63

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E# 63

J# 65
"The Battle of the Badge"

"Tokiwa Jimu! Saigo no Bajji!" (トキワジム! さいごのバッジ!)
(Tokiwa Gym! The Last Badge!)
September 25, 1999

September 17, 1998
Ash and friends finally arrive at Viridian City, it's been a whole year since they were last here and the Pokemon Center has reopened, and the Viridian Gym is in sight. Ash is determined to obtain his final badge to get into the Pokemon League.

As Ash is getting fired up to enter the gym and challenge, Gary and his squad of cheerleaders arrive, Gary immediately starts taunting Ash and flashes his ten badges before proceeding into the Viridian Gym for battle. Ash and Pikachu try to follow but the guards say only one trainer at a time and Ash has to wait outside, Togepi is inadvertantly flipped into a Fearows mouth and it begins flying off, the Fearow flies over a rooftop where Team Rocket happen to be spying on people and spits Togepi out right next to them. Togepi starts crossing rooftops over dangerously narrow planks with Jessie chasing after it, but she breaks the plank and falls. Togepi jumps down and Jessie catches it.

Meanwhile inside the Viridian Gym Gary begins a 3 vs. 3 battle against the gym leader. Gary's Nidoking takes on the leaders Golem first and wins convincingly, next up is Giovanni and Gary recalls Nidoking and instead sends out Arcanine who defeats Kingler with an impressive Fire spin, followed by a Fire Blast. Gary shows his arrogance, and the gym leader; who turns out to be Giovanni from Team Rocket sends out his most powerful Pokemon, one that isn't recognised by Gary's PokeDex, he even invites Gary to use all of his Pokemon against it. The mysterious Pokemon makes short work of Gary's Nidoking and Arcanine and Gary leaves without the badge.

Jessie and James arrive to the Viridian Gym shortly after with Togepi and offer it to Giovanni, but they don't even know what it does, and while he's telling them off Togepi escapes. Giovanni takes a call, theres been an accident and he needs to go immediately, he leaves Jessie, James and Meowth in control of the gym and throws them some Pokeballs before heading into the Catacombs beneath the gym where it's Pokemon are kept. He approaches the mysterious Pokemon that defeated Gary and tells it they have an emergency assignment for it.

Misty, Ash and Brock are still running around Viridian City looking for Togepi but are unable to find it, they start arguing outside the doors of the Viridian Gym and they hear its voice, opening the doors and finding it, but they also find Gary and his cheerleading squad passed out on the floor of the gym. Ash picks up Gary and he wakes up, Gary says its a Pokemon who did this, and the Pokemon wasn't just powerful, it was evil, he also says he doesn't think anyone will ever beat that Pokemon. Team Rocket then emerge from under the gym floor and announce themselves as the new leaders of the Viridian Gym and issue a challenge to Ash, in a specially prepared ring. Misty and Brock suspect a trap but Ash is determined to secure his eighth badge. Jessie calls a 3 vs. 3 battle, all at the same time and sends out Rhydon, Machamp and Kingler, also making reference to a secret weapon. Ash sends out Squirtle and Machamp attacks it immediately, the box is rigged so that any pain the Pokemon feel shock it's trainer. Ash manages to send out Bulbasaur to attack Kingler, sending Pidgeotto out next who targets Rhydon, this starts shocking Jessie. Meowth sees the potential for them to lose and tries to use the secret weapon but Gary stops him. James sends Weezing and Arbok to attack making it 5v3 but Ash sends in Pikachu whose thunder wins the match. Gary's cheerleaders cheer for Ash, Gary watches in the distance, quietly acknowledging that Ash did well.

Ash demands the earth badge from Jessie who refuses to give it to him. Togepi plays with the controls of Meowths secret weapon and blows up the platform Team Rocket are standing on, sending them blasting off and the Earth Badge straight into Ash's hands, the building begins to collapse and everyone runs, getting out just in time as the Viridian Gym crashes to the earth. Brock wonders if the gang will ever get to see the powerful Pokemon that Gary was talking about. Ash and friends decide to head home to pallet town to see Professor Oak.

Note: Plot elements of this episode tie in with Pokemon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes back.
episode064 11152 E# 64

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J# 66
"It's Mr. Mime Time!"

"Pokemon Sākasu no Bariyādo" (ポケモンサーカスのバリヤード)
(Barrierd of the Pokémon Circus)
September 27, 1999

September 24, 1998
Ash calls his mom to let her know that he's on the way home. Ash is excited to get back and see Prof. Oak to learn more about the Pokemon League, as he's running toward pallet he runs into an invisible wall. He then spots a Mr. Mime climbing up it's own invisible barrier, and after hearing how rare Mr. Mime is Ash is intent on catching it but a woman called Stella appears asking that they please let her catch it instead. She throws a PokéBall but misses and Mr. Mime escapes, the friends accompany Stella back to her Pokemon circus who is the ringmaster. It turns out her own Mr. Mime she uses for her circus performances got trained too hard, and it walked out on her in the middle of show, now refusing to perform and sitting about eating potato chips and scratching itself all day. Stella wanted another Mr. Mime in order to give her existing Mime some competition, with a view to prompting it to want to perform again.

Brock vows to help Stella get a Mr. Mime that day, and seems really confident, it turns out that Ash is going to be involved in this plan. Meanwhile Jessie, James and Meowth arrive at Team Rocket HQ and are grovelling about what happened at the Viridian Gym, he orders them to get out and find him some rare Pokemon and they set off in their balloon, a flyer for the Pokemon Circus then lands and they spot Mr. Mime and plan on stealing it to give to the boss. Unfortunately for all concerned the Mr. Mime performing today is Ash dressed up as Mr. Mime, Ash is worried because he doesn't know how to do Mr. Mimes parts and Stella vows to use her gentle training techniques to teach him. Unfortunately for Ash this means being aggressively whipped and shouted at by Stella, and it becomes quickly apparent why the real Mr. Mime decided to quit.

After a hard days training the evening Circus events begin and theres a capacity crowd. Ash, aka Mr. Mime then spots his mom in the audience. The lights go down and Jessie and James are revealed high above the rafters of the Circus tent, making quite a performance out of their entrance. Team Rocket capture "Mr. Mime" in a net and escape with their balloon via the roof. Misty and Brock run over to Stella, and shortly after Ash's Mom arrives, she knew it was him somehow, she actually isn't concerned at all and is glad they didn't take a real Mr. Mime. She invites Misty, Stella and Brock back to her home to cook them dinner.

Meanwhile Ash breaks his ropes, reveals who he is, and walks out of Team Rocket's hideout, flying off in their Balloon and heading to Pallet Town. The Mr. Mime they spotted on the road approaches Ash's house just after Misty, Brock and Stella leave, Ash's mom however thinks this is Ash in costume and feeds him Ash's favourite meal. Mr. Mime continues to make himself at home, and Ash arrives back in the balloon, walks in and finds a real Mr. Mime sat in the living room eating his dinner. Upon seeing Ash the real Mr. Mime hides behind his mom, Ash begs Mr. Mime to help the Pokemon circus, he is initially reluctant but the promise of some dessert from Ash's mom after does the trick and he agrees to help.

Team Rocket attack the circus with a tank and nets. Stella instructs the circus staff to get all the Pokemon and run, Team Rocket are in hot pursuit and catch the trucks in a giant net, they continue looking for the real Mr. Mime and spot Stella running off with him, but he's a little unfit from all that eating bad food and doing no exercise, Stella carries him on her back and keeps running. Team Rocket are about to capture her in a net and Ash jumps in the way, Pikachu tries a thunderbolt on the tank but its made of rubber so it doesn't work. Ash takes a long shot and sends out Charizard, who doesn't fancy helping. Ash's mom pleads with the Mr. Mime from her house to help them, and he agrees, Team Rocket immediately fire on him and he repells the rockets with barriers. Team Rocket try to ram the barriers with the tank but they don't move an inch, Stella's Mr. Mime wants to compete with the other Mime and also builds barriers to Block TR's path, the two Mimes then work together to build a cage of barriers, completely trapping Team Rockets tank!

The circus Mr. Mime and Stella make up, she agrees to go easier on him and he agrees to perform again. Ash's moms Mr. Mime, aka "Mimey" returns to her. Team Rocket fire all of their missles inside the barriers and blow themselves up, sending them blasting off again. Mr. Mime stays on as a companion for Ash's mom.
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"Showdown at the Po-ké Corral"

"Raibaru Taiketsu! Ōkido Kenkyūjo" (ライバルたいけつ! オーキドけんきゅうじょ)
(Rival Showdown! Ōkido Laboratory)
September 30, 1999

October 8, 1998
Ash is rudely awoken from a dream about becoming a Pokemon master by Mr. Mime and his vacuum. It becomes very apparent that Mimey only listens to Ash's mom, and Ash and friends set off to visit Professor Oak. Jessie and James arrive at Team Rockets fabulous headquarters just in time to witness it exploding, and see a mysterious Pokemon shooting off into the sky. Giovanni survives the explosion and his chopper arrives to pick him up, he tells them to go and do their jobs. he then leaves in a hurry.

Ash and co arrive at Oak's lab, and he's quite excited to see Togepi. It just so happens that they turned up on the same day as Gary, who as ever starts taunting Ash, Professor Oak asks why pallets top two trainers (news to both Gary and Ash) can't just get along and suggests they could actually learn from each other. Oak also reveals that of the four trainers who left Pallet, the other two started well but didn't have the skill, and Gary has 10 badges, and Ash 8 at this point.

Professor Oak tells Ash and gang that the Pokemon League meeting will take place atop the Indigo Plateau in exactly two months. Meanwhile Team Rocket, disguised as news reporters arrive at Ash's house looking for him, but they're run out of town by Mimey.

Gary taunts Ash about his Krabby, and the fact that Ash doesn't rotate his Pokemon to level them all up. Gary gives a small amount of legit advice while still taunting him and just then Professor Oak scans their Pokedex's revealing that Gary has seen 60 different Pokemon and Ash has seen over 100, but Gary has captured many more. They all head to the lab to see all the different Pokemon that Gary has caught, and inside there appears to be thousands of Pokéballs. Gary has captured more than 200 Pokemon, even though many are duplicates. As the group discuss different techniques and methods of being a Pokemon Trainer Jessie and James are trying to break into the lab from the back but get attacked by Beedrill and blocked in by Snorlax.

Professor Oak explains what he does each day, checking all the Pokemon are OK and then letting them out of their balls to play, feeding them all and so on. In the afternoons he then does his research, in the early evening he returns the Pokemon to their balls for sleep.

The group continues its tour of Oak's lab and facility, while Jessie, James and Meowth try to get there by following another route, disturbing a vast amount of rock and ground type Pokemon as they go and getting chased away. Ash and Gary vow to make their Pokemon the best they can be and decide to battle as practice before the Pokemon league, but theres an explosion from the electric Pokemon reserve and the whole group rushes over to investigate. It turns out Team Rocket have been blown up by a load of Electrode, Ash confronts them and they make clear that they're here to steal Pikachu. Gary and Prof. Oak are more concerned about the fact that Meowth can talk than anything else, a battle is about to start between Team Rocket and Ash and Gary, but a herd of Tauros (Ash's Tauros from the safari zone) charges the fence and sends them blasting off.

Gary says he's going to head on home, and says they can have their battle at the Pokemon League. Ash now has two months to train for the battles ahead at the Indigo Plateau.
episode068 11156 E# 66

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"The Evolution Solution"

"Yadon ga Yadoran ni naru Toki" (ヤドンがヤドランになるとき)
(When Yadon Becomes Yadoran)
October 2, 1999

October 15, 1998
About to begin his training in Pallet, Ash sees his mom, friends and many townsfolk are all about to take a trip to Seafoam Island to visit the beach and try windsurfing. Ash wants to join them but his mom points out he should be training.

Ash visits Oak's lab to see him looking a little stressed out trying to solve a Pokemon evolution mystery; why does a shellder clamping onto a Slowpokes tail make them combine and evolve into Slowbro? Professor Oak thinks he knows someone who might be able to solve it, Professor Westwood from Seafoam Island.

Professor Oak asks Ash to go over and see Professor Westwood to get some answers, he see's Misty and Brock windsurfing who assume he's just goofing off, they head over and meet Professor Westwood, who likes to be known simply as Westwood the Fifth. Westwood is pretty interested in Togepi as he hasn't seen one before.

It actually turns out that Westwood is already working on the mystery of why Slowpoke and Shellder combine to become Slowbro, but he isn't any further ahead with his research than Oak. The group head off to find some lunch, meanwhile Giovanni the Team Rocket leader is having a relaxing day at the beach with his Persian to recover from the stress of Team Rockets HQ being destroyed. Jessie, James and Meowth watch from afar, Meowth is particularly jealous of the affection he shows for the Persian, Jessie and James have already scrubbled Giovanni's yaucht and are now digging for clams, when to their surprise they discover a Shellder which Jessie ends up capturing. Shortly after Giovanni calls them over, threatens them and tells them to break into Professor Westwoods lab.

Back at the lab Westwood is showing the group how the shape of Shellders shell completely changes when it attaches to Slowpoke. Ash and Misty spot some people parasailing, it turns out to be Jessie and James who crash land on the labs balcony. Professor Westwood is first very curious to see a talking Meowth, but then gets scared about what they might be plotting. Team Rocket demand all of the Professors Pokemon, but he only has a Slowpoke in his lab, The Professor runs away with Slowpoke, Ash and friends along with Team Rocket give chase, Westwood trips, Team Rocket send Shellder after Slowpoke, Psyduck comes out and blocks the shellder (unintentionally) and gets bitten by it. Team Rocket attack Psyduck, Jessie throws Shellder straight at Slowpoke, and misses, Shellder clamping onto Psyducks head giving it a major headache. Psyduck uses a disable attack on Team Rocket, their Pokemon and the Shellder, followed by its confusion attack, this sends all of them except Shellder blasting off again.

Shellder attaches to Slowpokes tail and the evolution into Slowbro takes place there and then. Team Rocket run at the group again and Westwood instructs Slowbro to hit with Mega Punch, it remembers how to use that attack at the last second and punches Team Rocket into the sunset. Professor Westwood believes he has solved the mystery as to why the two evolve into Slowbro; simply because it's mutually beneficial, the Shellder helps Slowpoke to counterbalance and stand on two feet, freeing its arms for attacks like the Mega Punch, it also enables Shellder to travel on land!

Ash has missed a day of training, but did learn something about Pokemon. Slowbro and Psyduck bid each other a long farewell.
episode069 11157 E# 67

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J# 69
"The Pi-Kahuna"

"Naminori Pikachū no Densetsu" (なみのりピカチュウのでんせつ)
(Legend of the Surfing Pikachu)
October 2, 1999

October 22, 1998
Despite being at the beach on Seafoam Island, Ash isn't slacking and is training hard, as is Pikachu. As he's running down the road a vehicle splashes Ash and lets loads of fumes out in his face, disorienting him for long enough to cause a major car accident and pile up, but fortunately not being injured personally. Officer Jenny turns up to rectify the situation and tells Ash and co to be more careful next time, the group ask why its so busy and Jenny explains that its because Humounga-Dunga is coming, a giant wave that only hits the island once every 20 years. Jenny points out a rock that surfers are trying to surf to the top of and put their flag, Jenny explains they're all trying to become surfing legends like a guy called Jan was, he has been the only person to ever ride Humounga-Dunga and plant his flag at the top of the rock. For over four decades people have been coming from all across the world to try and match what Jan did.

Ash runs off, grabs a surfboard and rushes out to hit the surf, evading his actual training once more. Pikachu spots another Pikachu sat on a clifftop near a little house. Ash falls off his surfboard and something is wrong with his foot, he starts to drown but makes it to his surfboard and a big wave turns up and knocks Ash out under the water. A guy and his Pikachu fly past, rescue Ash and surf the large wave, getting Ash to safety he takes Ash to his home to recover, Ash wakes up with Misty, Brock and Pikachu at his bedside. The guy who rescues him comes in and asks if he's OK, the guys name is Victor and it was he and his Pikachu, Pukka who saved him. Pikachu goes out to meet Pukka and they watch across the waves together, Meanwhile Team Rocket turn up in their sub and spot both Pikachu's, intent on stealing them. Back inside the Cabin Victor is telling the story of how he met Pukka, who wasn't caught like a regular Pokemon and came to him from the sea on a little raft and Victor rescued him, and since that day the two have never been apart.

Apparently Pukka has a special power, it can feel the waves in it's body and it even knows when a big wave is coming. Together they have surfed every major wave in the world, except one. The gang take a look at the pictures of Victor and Pukka, to discover he has a picture of his younger self with Jan, the famous surfer that Jenny told them about. Victor reveals that he started surfing because he wanted to be just like Jan and tells the tale of the day that Jan rode Humounga-dunga, told Victor "you can do it too" and handed Victor his surfboard before leaving to surf the world. Twenty years after these events Victor himself challenged the big wave, but he failed, it was the biggest disappointment of his life but led to him finding Pukka. Just then a commotion can be heard from outside, Team Rocket have snatched both Pikachu's with their sub and headed underwater.

A large group of Gyarados attack Team Rocket's sub as they've inadvertantly encroached on the Gyarados egg laying season! Misty, Ash, Brock and Victor are in a boat when they spot Team Rockets sub blasting off and see the Chu's heading toward the water, Ash uses Bulasaur to save Ash's Pikachu, but Pukka plunges into the water and the boat gets knocked away. Victor throws his surfboard to Pukka and swims out to rescue him, Ash and co have to return to shore or the boat is going to capsize. Pukka senses that the big wave they have been waiting for is near, Victor and Pukka have their chance to finally beat the big wave.

The beach is evacuated by Officer Jenny and everyone heads to high ground where they watch the giant wave approach, there they spot Victor and Pukka riding the wave! Planting their flag succesfully next to Jans and fulfilling their dreams.

The group rush over to congratulate Victor and Pukka, Victor sees a young pair of surfers watching him in awe and tells them that they can do it too (Really though, don't try this at home).

Team Rocket are surrounded by angry Gyarados, precariously balanced on a rock, and Ash and friends continue on their journey.
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E# 68

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"Make Room for Gloom"

"Shokubutsuen no Kusaihana" (しょくぶつえんのクサイハナ)
(Kusaihana of Botanical Garden)
October 4, 1999

October 29, 1998
It's a new day in Pallet Town and Ash is sticking strictly to a punishing daily training regimen, oh wait, no he's still in bed. After another rude awakening from Mimey, Ash finally gets up, his mom asks him to help in the garden but he says he has lots of tough training to do and that he's heading into the mountains today. Ash gets outside and explains to Brock and Misty that climbing mountains is much easier than doing chores for his mom, she then casually asks them to pick up 300lbs of fertilizer on the way back. They run off into the forest and spot a strange building that looks like a giant greenhouse; turns out its the Xanadu nursery. The group are messing about outside the Nursery when they get approached by someone wielding what appears to be a flamethrower, however it turns out just to be an employee of the nursery called Potter, and he was just watering the plants. The group go inside with Potter and he explains that a lot of Pokemon visit the nursery as their grass type Pokemon love it there, Ash calls out Bulbasaur and it runs off to look at all the flowers. Brock asks Potter about the girl he saw, apparently her name is Florinda.

Ash catches up to Bulbasaur who is busy sniffing all the flowers, unfortunately one of them' "PokéNip" sends him a bit funny, he continues sniffing stuff until one makes him collapse entirely, Ash is about to smell the plant that made Bulbasaur collapse (why Ash, why?) but Florinda appears and tells him to stop because its Stunstem and it can completely paralyse any human or Pokémon who sniffs it. She instructs her Gloom to bring Bulbasaur into the house, Ash helps Gloom carry Bulbasaur, there Gloom administers an antidote to Bulbasaur and it comes around. Turns out that because Gloom has been tending the stunstem for so long it has built up a resistance and developed an antidote to it, it also turns out that Bulbasaur has developed quite a liking to Gloom. Meanwhile Brock is outside talking to Florinda, whose family have had the Xanadu nursery for generations and now they need her to run it, but she sees herself as a failiure at raising Pokemon as she can't even get her Gloom to evolve into a Vileplume.

Professor Oak turns up at the nursery and discovers that the Leaf Stone Florinda attempted to use to evolve Gloom is a fake, and that there have been lots of reports of fake evolution stones being sold by someone nearby, the description Florinda gave matched Team Rocket who it turns out are actually in the nursery right now stealing plants. Ash, Misty and Brock run out to confront them. Team Rocket take a moment to ridicule Florinda for not being able to tell it was a fake stone. Ash sends Bulbasaur to tie up Team Rocket with it's vine whips while Meowth is creating a bomb out of Stunstem, he throws it and stuns the entire group, including Bulbasaur whose Vine whip releases and lets Jessie and James go.

They grab Pikachu and are about to escape, Florinda reluctantly sends Gloom to battle Team Rocket who send out Arbok and Weezing to fight it 2v1. Brock encourages Florinda to keep trying, Florinda remembers some of Glooms attacks and uses double Team, Pikachu bites Jessie and escapes, then Gloom finishes the job with a powerful Solar Beam, sending Team Rocket blasting off into the sunset.

Gloom cures everyone with its antidote, Florinda then thanks Brock for helping her believe in herself, Florinda then unfortunately tells Potter she loves him, Brocks dreams are once more destroyed.

Ash is yet another day closer to the Pokemon League and has still failed to do much training. It's now two months away.
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"Lights, Camera, Quack-tion!"

"Pokemon za Mūbī!" (ポケモン・ザ・ムービー!)
(Pokémon the Movie!)
October 8, 1999

November 5, 1998
While hiking to their next adventure our young heroes find a picture perfect spot to set up camp, where Ash intends on finally starting his training for the Pokemon League. It seems that Jigglypuff is still following the group from a distance.

A girl called Catrina then turns up, looking for a Pokemon battle. She sends out a Raichu and just as Raichu and Pikachu are about to battle it out Team Rocket try to catch Pikachu in a net, but end up catching Raichu instead, who is non too pleased and puts a powerful electric attack into them. Just as Raichu is about to send them blasting off, a film director turns up shouting CUT, he's currently recording a movie and plans on using the footage of the battle and Team Rockets defeat in his film!

It turns out he has been doing a talent search looking for some fresh new faces to serve in his films, of course everyone is then falling over themselves to be in the film (Particularly Jessie and James) but he then breaks the news that it's only Pokemon who will be starring in it, next revealing that a Wigglytuff is the star. It doesn't take long for everyone to realise that Wigglytuff has a bit of a short fuse, an Abra was supposed to be co-starring but it teleported away because of Wigglytuff being difficult to work with.

Everyone starts sending out their Pokemon to try to convince the director to put their Pokemon in the film. Everyone completes with their dancing and the choice is narrowed down to 7; including Pikachu, Raichu, Team Rockets Pokemon and Meowth. Unfortunately Jigglypuff shows up, sings and puts everyone to sleep and draws on their faces. Wigglytuff is indeed horrible to work with and all the Pokemon except Psyduck leave the auditions, so Psyduck wins the part in the movie by default and Cleavon Schpielbuck begins to explain the story which is like a Pokemon version of Romeo and Juliet.

Essentially Psyduck and Wigglytuff are dating, but their feuding families want to drive them apart, when the battle ensues an arrow heads straight for Wigglytuff and Psyduck jumps in the way being hit in the head by it. The tragedy brings the families together. Misty points out that the story doesn't sound overly original, everyone else volunteers to work on the movie for free. Team Rocket are watching from the hillside and plotting as the filming begins beneath, Arbok and Weezing are still pretty depressed about how their dreams were shattered by a Mean Wigglytuff.

Like every great director Cleavon Schpielbuck starts filming with the last part first so he knows how it ends. Using their Pokemon to help create the special effects the filming is looking pretty good, until Team Rocket return and interrupt, until they are jumped on by all the Pokemon from the filmset, a brawl ensues but Meowth uses a big robotic arm to capture all the Pokemon and break it up. Every Pokemon is caught but Psyduck, Wigglytuff calls out for him to help, the combined shouting from Misty and shouts from Wigglytuff quickly give Psyduck a headache, and we all know what that means by now. Psyduck hits Team Rocket and their machine with a confusion attack and sends them blasting off. The camera's were rolling this whole time and Schpielbuck takes credit for the whole lot, even though he didn't actually plan any of it.

Ash finally remembers that he's meant to be training for the Pokemon League, which is only a few weeks away and Team Rocket are left hanging from the edge of a tree over a sheer drop.
episode072 11160 E# 70

J# 72
E# 70

J# 72
"Go West, Young Meowth"

"Nyāsu no Aiueo" (ニャースのあいうえお)
(Nyarth's A-I-U-E-O)
October 9, 1999

November 12, 1998
It's a beautiful morning in Pallet Town and Ash and Brock are up with the sun getting ready for the Pokemon League competition. Just then the postman arrives with an invitation to the world premiere screening of a new Pokemon movie called "Pokemon in Love" being shown in Hollywood, California! It's the movie Ash and co helped film in the previous episode. Everyone is really excited about going, especially because it's the movie that they're meant to be in! even Ash whose meant to be training for the Pokemon League decides to come along.

Team Rocket are also looking at a billboard for the movie, and Jessie and James really want to see it. Meowth however isn't enthusiastic about returning to Hollywood, he starts to reminisce about how he lived alone, hungry and lonely on the streets but after seeing a Hollywood movie with a really pampered Meowth in it he went there, inspired to follow his dreams.

Back in reality, Ash, his mom and friends arrive at Hollywood to find that the place where the Premiere is, is actually a run down dump compared to the Hollywood they imagine. Team Rocket are watching on as Ash and co arrive at the cinema, Meowth states "This ain't the town it used to be" before walking off to take care of "some personal business". He begins to reminisce again about how he was chased from restaurants etc, until he met a Persian and some other Meowth who threw him a bone, literally. Together he and his group broke into various foot outlets and stole all they could eat, and then he spotted a rather pampered female Meowth in a store across the street, rushing over to greet "Meowsy" he caused a traffic pileup. Meowsy completely rejected Meowth and said he could never be human and give her the things that her rich trainer could, they sped off in a car and left Meowth crying in the streets wishing he could be more human. So Meowth started watching dancing lessons etc and learned to stand on two legs, he also started listening in on speech lessons and learned to speak and read, all so he could have a chance for Meowsy to want him. The first word he read in a book was ROCKET.

Meowth heads back to the store where he met Meowsy and takes her some flowers, but she still rejects him, calling him a dirty street Meowth and a freak thats even worse than before. This is what gave Meowth the determination to become rich and powerful, and hence join Team Rocket. Just then he is approached by his old gang who want him to rejoin, Meowth says no and that he is sticking with Team Rocket, it's then revealed that Meowsy is no longer a posh pampered Meowth and is now part of the gang. She explains that her owner moved away and abandoned her when she ran out of money, leaving her on the streets to fend for herself, this is when the gang took her in. Meowth talks to Meowsy and says he wants to take her with him, Persian objects to this and the other Meowth advance on him, Jessie and James turn up to save him and send Arbok and Weezing after the gang, leaving Meowth in a showdown against Persian, who Meowth manages to defeat. Meowsy rushes past Meowth and straight to check on Persian, licking his wounds, explaining that the Persian took her in when she had nothing and it wouldn't be right to abandon him. Meowsy then goes on to call Meowth a walking, talking freak.

Ash and co finish watching the movie they were supposed to be in, but all the bits with them in were apparently cut. They're also not overly sure it's blockbuster material. Team Rocket burst onto the stage, do nothing inparticular and then leave. Meowth gazes at the nights sky from a rooftop, wondering if maybe Meowsy is looking at the Moon too.
episode073 11161 E# 71

J# 73
E# 71

J# 73
"To Master the Onixpected!"

"Shitennō Shiba Tōjō!" (してんのうシバとうじょう!)
(Elite Four Shiba Appears!)
October 11, 1999

November 19, 1998
With only three weeks left to the Pokemon League competition Ash is behind in his training. He and Brock are about to watch Bruno of the Elite Four in battle, Misty unplugs the TV and tells them to do some actual training, Brock explains that they were trying to learn from the video and Ash says he wishes he could find Bruno because he's sure that Bruno would teach him. Just then Ash's mom comes in and says she heard that Bruno trains on Mt. Hideaway, a distant but accessible mountain around 10 miles away from Ash's house.

Ash leaves resolute and determined to find Bruno at Mt. Hideaway, not long after however Ash and Brock are really tired, and they suggest stopping for Misty, who is actually fine and dandy. They arrive at a small hut near Mt. Hideaway, there they meet an old lady who gives them something to eat, Ash and co ask if she knows of Bruno, she doesn't seem to, but she does say some varmints have been stealing from her. The traps she set to stop said varmints are then activated, the thieves are here, the old lady along with Ash and co give chase to the thieves who turn out to be Team Rocket, she beats them with a broom and they scram, leaving their stolen goods behind.

The old Lady then approaches Ash and gang and warns them that they'll be bumping into the overgrown Onix' that the mountain is famous for. They carry on walking up the mountain for a few hours but theres no sign of Bruno or any overgrown Onix, Ash however spots what he believes to be a road... but its not, its a track left by something really big, just then said really big thing comes cruising toward them, one of the biggest Onix they've ever seen. As the Onix is about to crush Ash and friends someone shouts them to come behind the rock, it's Bruno of the Elite Four.

Brock and Ash both beg Bruno to help Ash prepare for the Pokemon League. They agree to do anything Bruno asks, this involves carrying pales of water, splitting wood, carrying stones and peeling the bark off twigs to make Master Bruno some chopsticks. Bruno starts digging into his Bruno stew, Ash and Misty start to doubt he actually knows any big secrets about Pokemon training anad Brock is disgusted, picking up a piece of wood and claiming Bruno is so well trained that if Brock attacks him from behind with it, he will block it with his lightning reflexes. Brock approaches and attacks Bruno with the big wooden stick, knocking him out.

Bruno tells Ash there is no secret to Pokemon, and that he only came to Mt. Hideaway to try and capture the biggest, baddest giant Onix on the mountain, because strong Pokemon help create a stronger trainer. Team Rocket are watching from the hillside listening in, they decide that if they can capture this Onix they will be as strong as An Elite Four trainer. They go after the Giant Onix and sure enough they find it, they use a weapon to fire on Onix, but they are only successful in annoying it. Team Rocket flee to a cave with the giant Onix hot on their trail, the angry Onix attacks the very part of the mountain that they are hiding under. Ash and co hear the noise and come running over, hearing Team Rockets voices from within the mountain. Brock sends his Onix but its nowhere near strong enough to take him, Staryu and Squirtle hit the giant Onix with their water guns to weaken it and Team Rocket seize the oppurtunity to run. The Giant Onix however isn't done, hitting Squirtle, Staryu and Brocks Onix with it's tail and doing the same to Team Rocket, sending them blasting off. The extremely angry giant Onix heads to the cliffside that Ash , Misty and Brock are using as a vantage point and attacks it, destabilising the ground and knocking Ash to the floor, just as the giant Onix is about to crush Ash and Pikachu, Master Bruno arrives and rescues them. He then takes on the giant Onix, using no Pokemon, only his own martial prowess.

The Giant Onix continues to try and attack Master Bruno, who tries to reason with it and continually avoids the attacks, the Giant Onix hits itself with its own attack while trying to get Bruno off it's head. Bruno approaches the Onix and tells it there is no reason to fear him, asking Onix to communicate what he is fearing, it seems that Onix communicates with him in some way and Master Bruno investigates, it seems there was a Sandslash stuck in the side of Onix the whole time and thats why it was so angry. Bruno removes the Sandslash and asks the giant Onix to come along with him, the giant Onix agrees and captures him. Brock knew that Bruno could tell that Sandslash was hurting Onix, and begs for the secret, Bruno insists that there are no secrets, they continue to beg him to tell them - swearing to keep the secret. He says if there is a secret , he will only tell them if they promise not to keep it; "If there really is a secret to Pokemon it's only this; humans and Pokemon must live and work and share this world together, and they must care for each other... just like you and Pikachu". Bruno says he looks forward to the day when he faces Ash in battle, before departing up the mountainside.

And so Ash and his friends learned a very special secret from a very special trainer as the Pokemon League competition grows one day closer. Team Rocket are surrounded by the remaining Giant Onix.
episode074 11162 E# 72

J# 74
E# 72

J# 74
"The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis"

"Gekitotsu! Chō Kodai Pokemon" (げきとつ! ちょうこだいポケモン)
(Clash! Super-Ancient Pokémon)
October 14, 1999

November 26, 1998
Ash is having a practice match against Brock, Pikachu vs. Vulpix while Misty is doing some fishing. Just as Pikachu and Vulpix are about to use some of their most powerful attacks, Jigglypuff jumps in the way and they have to redirect the attacks, hitting the rocks behind them. The attacks blast away the layer of surface rock and reveal a hidden temple, they pick up a golden artifact on the floor, as they're checking it out a female archaeologist called Eve, she snatches the artifact and starts to examine it, the rest of her archaeology expedition then show up and praise her for finding the artifact.

Eve claims credit for the find despite the protests of Brock and Misty, and instructs her expedition to move their camp to that location. Team Rocket are watching from the mountainside and realise that something potentially very valuable may have been found. Ash and co head into Eve's tent where she studies their findings, and the group discuss that this could be the site of the lost City of Pokémopolis, a place destroyed by a storm long ago where people regarded Pokémon as signs of natures power. Just then another archaeologist runs in, he's found another relic made from the same material as the one that Ash and co found, this one looks like a spoon.

Eve has also found a keystone with carvings on it that say "Beware the two great powers of destruction, the shadow of the dark device will grapple with the prisoner of the unearthly earth, and the sacred city will be no more as day is swallowed up by night, darker still for you when they return to lay waste the world but no human knows the secret to soothe the powers and guide them back to the shadow world", it seems that Eve has been trying to decipher what exactly this means for quite a while, and its the toughest Mystery shes ever faced. That night the group stay in Eve's trailer with her, but while they sleep something is happening with the two artifacts they found, and Team Rocket are outside trying to plunder the temple, with Jessie sending Arbok to tunnel beneath the temple and bring back the most valuable thing it can find. Arbok then returns with some black balls, but they start glowing and then Arbok disappears, something heads toward Team Rocket and they try to flee but are frozen in place and they too disappear. The next day Eve, along with Ash and gang go outside the trailer to find giant footsteps leading from inside the cave, and a device on the floor, one of the expedition hypothesises that it could be the dark device and picks it up, he too disappears before everyones eyes. The device levitates and the middle part of it shows all those captive within it, Ash notices Team Rocket are trapped inside the device.

The device heads toward the group who all turn and run, but the device freezes several members of Eve's expedition in place before capturing them inside. Eve along with Ash and gang take refuge in her trailer. A giant Gengar with tribal markings forms outside, the two artifacts they initially find begin floating around in the trailer. Even Professor Oak can see what he believes to be a storm forming in the distance. Ash rushes after the giant Gengar to try and stop it because the nearest town is Pallet, his hometown. Brock sends out Onix to go underground and try to block the Gengar, Ash sends Pidgeotto who tries to use gust to blow him back, but Gengar captures it inside the dark device. Onix tries to bind the Gengar but instead sinks inside it, also falling prisoner to the dark device. The group flee to the trailer where they find Eve, along with the artifacts they found floating around. The spoon combines with the original artifact they found and a dark shadow forms, a giant Alakazam forms in front of them, directly in front of Gengar. As the two begin an epic battle, Eve finally solves the riddle from the ancient tablet and realises that it was these same Pokémon who destroyed Pokémopolis. The tablet says no one knows the secret to stopping these creatures from destroying everything, so the group is still none the wiser.

The giant Alakazam and Gengar continue their battle, Jigglypuff turns up and starts singing its song, it doesn't put Gengar and Alakazam to sleep but it does activate an ancient device that makes an XXXL version of Jigglypuff appear, the song from this Jigglypuff is what soothes the ancient powers of destruction, they have finally found the solution to the riddle, if accidentally. When everyone wakes up all the missing people and Pokemon are returned and the giant Gengar and Alakazam have returned to the shadow world, they also conclude that a giant Jigglypuff must have been the protector of Pokémopolis. Team Rocket were also rescued, and fled the scene without troubling Ash and gang, promising to not be so easy on them next time. So the mystery of Pokemopolis is solved, but we still haven't solved the biggest mystery of all; will Ash ever get around to training for the Pokemon League?
episode075 11163 E# 73

J# 75
E# 73

J# 75
"Bad to the Bone!"

"Garagara no Hone Konbō" (ガラガラのホネこんぼう)
(Garagara's Bone Club)
October 16, 1999

December 3, 1998
Even though Ash has tried to train for the Pokemon league competition, he still has a lot to learn so he and his friends have decided to get some last minute advice from Professor Oak. Brock explains that they genuinely did plan to train but they kept getting sidetracked, Ash asks the professor for some tips and Oak chastises him stating that if he's not ready for the Pokemon League now he never will be, but he'll tell him one thing, GO RIGHT NOW. Ash jumps to it, runs and gets his stuff and the friends wave goodbye to Ash's mom, Mimey and Professor Oak, on the route to the Indigo Plateau and the Pokemon League!

As they're trying to navigate the map and transversing some tall grass they come across a trainer named Otoshi who challenges them, he's been training for the Pokemon League too and has been alone in the mountains for a long time actually training, he seeks one last battle to test his strength before he travels to the Indigo Plateau himself. Ash accepts Otoshi's challenge, but Otoshi adds the condition that whoever loses must turn over all their badges to the winner. Ash starts to walk away, but after a few choice words from Otoshi Ash turns around and agrees to battle, sending out his Bulbasaur against Otoshi's Marowak, the battle begins and it quickly becomes apparent that Otoshi's Marowak is very skilled in battle, defeating Bulbasaur quickly. Ash sends Pikachu to take on Marowak next and avoids it's Bone Club with its agility, he then defeats Marowak with an electric attack. Ash tells Otoshi to hand over the badges, but he says he hasn't got any.

Otoshi breaks down to tears before telling Ash and friends the tale of how he and Marowak overcame many tough challenges to secure eight gym badges and how they were on the way to the Indigo Plateau when they were robbed, both he and Marowak had been very hungry and they spotted a pile of delicious fruit in the road, when they rushed over to eat it they fell down into a trap. It quickly becomes apparent that it was Team Rocket, and they stole all of his gym badges and fled. Ash and friends vow to help Otoshi get his badges back, despite running the risk of being late for the start of the Pokemon League.

James and Meowth meanwhile are in a nearby forest laughing to themselves about how easy it was to get eight gym badges, they decide to take another look at those beautiful badges, but can't find them anywhere... they realise Jessie is nowhere to be seen, she's stolen the badges off them and is on her way to enter the Pokemon League herself without them! Ash scouts the area with his Pidgeotto and it quickly leads Ash and friends to James and Meowth in the Team Rocket balloon, Pidgeotto pops it and sends them crashing to the ground. James and Meowth explain that they were robbed too but no one believes them, so the group makes them turn out their pockets and rifle through their posessions, finding that the gym badges are indeed not there.

Marowak starts going wild, Meowth interprets what it's saying and it's not good news for Otoshi, Marowak doesn't want Otoshi to be his trainer anymore and only ever put up with the hard training and battles because it was dreaming of getting into the Pokemon league competition and now just a couple of days before the competition they lose all the badges and all the hard work was for nothin and its best that they say goodbye. Otoshi reaches out for Marowak who attacks his hand before walking away.

Ash and gang set off to find Jessie, as do James and Meowth. Jessie meanwhile is in disguise walking down a road when she spots another trainer on his way to the Pokemon League, she asks to look at his badges and also shows him her own, little does she know that James is watching her from the balloon and is pretty sure its her, as they have been dressing up in disguises together for a long time now, they bring the balloon quietly behind a clearing. Jessie makes the trainer look the other way and is about to steal his badges, when James throws a smoke bomb and interrupts her, they burst into their motto and Jessie's true identity is revealed the trainer realises its Team Rocket and runs off. Jessie agrees to work with James and Meowth instead of go off on her own, as they can do more bad when working as a team than individually. Seconds later Otoshi arrrives with Ash and gang and he and Ash demand the badges back, of course Team Rocket aren't going to give up without a fight and challenge them to a battle.

Marowak is walking through the woods when he reaches a clearing where there are lots of people doing their final preparations for the Pokemon league, triggering him to remember how he and Otoshi trained side by side and became strong together, with tears in his eyes Marowak decides to go back and find his trainer. Meanwhile Otoshi's Doduo is losing the battle against Jessie's Arbok and things aren't looking good, Arbok defeating it with a wrap, Jessie is just about to steal Otoshi's Doduo with a Pokéball and Marowak returns, knocks the ball flying and steps in to battle Arbok, quickly defeating Arbok with a Boneclub followed by a Bonemerang. James sends Weezing out and Pikachu shocks it, Arbok and James with a thunderbolt. Team Rocket try to escape in the balloon with the badges, but Marowak uses its Bonemerang to destroy the balloon and retrieve them.

Otoshi thanks Marowak for returning and retrieving the badges, asking him to fight by his side in the Pokemon League, Marowak happily accepts, Otoshi is handed his badges back by Misty and Ash and friends say goodbye. The Indigo Plateau is near, and Ash and co can see it in the distance.
episode076 11164 E# 74

J# 76
E# 74

J# 76
"All Fired Up!"

"Faiyā! Pokemon Rīgu Kaikaishiki!" (ファイヤー! ポケモンリーグかいかいしき!)
(Fire! The Pokémon League Opening Ceremony!)
October 23, 1999

December 10, 1998
Our heroes have finally reached the Indigo Plateau, home of the renound Pokemon League, Ash screams in celebration and terrifies Togepi who starts crying, he is completely unable to contain his excitement and is extremely confident. Ash and co arrive to find the streets lined with people waving flags with PokéBalls on, they were waiting for the Pokemon League torch to pass, the flames of the torchs are said to be from that of an ancient Moltres and its a great honour to wield the flame as those flames symbolise everything that is good about the Pokemon League.

Ash decides he wants to carry the Pokemon League torch and runs up to the torch bearer but Officer Jenny steps in and says only approved competitors can carry the torch. Ash protests that he does have eight badges and is going to compete, but she still says no because he isn't an approved competitor and thats the rules, and old guy pops up from the vehicle behind the torch and it's the president of the Pokemon League Torch Committee, Charles Goodshow, or Charlie for short. Charlie admires Ash's spirit and decides to bend the rules for him on this occasion and let him carry the torch, the flame is passed to the torch that Ash is carrying. The convoy continues it's approach to the Pokemon League with Ash at the front carrying the torch. Team Rocket meanwhile are overhead in their balloon and have other ideas. The convoy runs into unstable ground and President Goodshow, Misty, Brock, Pikachu and Officer Jenny fall into a hole in the ground. Ash didn't fall in however and is left to face Team Rocket who then jump down from their balloon, Meowth jumps straight onto Ash's face, scratching him and by pure reflex Ash throws the torch, Meowth grabs it (badly) and burns himself, Pikachu has got out of the hole and grabs the torch when Meowth drops it. Meowth at this point is running around in flames chasing Jessie and James, James sends Victreebel to stop him, but his Pokemon also catches fire. Ash reluctantly uses his Squirtle's water gun to put them out and despite this they still continue to try and steal the torch. James lunges at Pikachu who is holding the torch, Pikachu throws the flame so he can use his attacks and shocks James, The torch is caught in the air by both Ash and Jessie, Squirtle too tries to get Jessie to release the flame, but Meowth tickles Ash, he releases his grip and they depart in the balloon with the flame in hand.

Stating that he's failed, Ash sits on the ground looking beaten, but President Goodshow tells him he's proud of his bravery and happily states that the flame will live on, before producing another flame of moltres from a lantern he hides beneath his beard, Charlie always keeps an extra flame with him from Moltres just incase the first one goes out.

A recovery crew lifts whats left of the convoy out of the crater, a torch is lit from the spare flame and the final journey to the Pokemon League begins, Ash initially carrying the torch before passing it to Misty and then to Brock. Ash and Misty spot the Pokemon League building, and Brock arrives and hands the flame to the President. Darkness begins to fall as the group arrive at the Pokemon League village where trainers stay during the competition, there they quickly find Gary and his cheerleaders, Gary as usual sets out to taunt Ash telling he'll need lots of luck if he wants to win anything and making the valid point that you have to study the competition if you want to win. Gary leaves quickly, worried he might catch loseritus from Ash if he sticks around too long. That night Ash lies awake, thinking of comments like "The excitement is really getting to him" from Brock, and of course Gary's earlier loseritus comment. Ash can't sleep and gets out of bed, gets dressed and heads to the stadium in which tomorrows battles will take place, standing there staring at the arena and thinking about how succesful he will or won't be in the morning. President Goodshow watches on, once more admiring Ash's spirit.

The next day all of the competitors enter the stadium, there are hundreds of them and they've all won at least eight gym badges. Both Ash and Gary are there of course, Ash and Pikachu look nervous, Gary is as arrogant and smug as ever. The flame bearer arrives to light the stadium's big central torch, when she gets to the top two figures block her path and try to take the torch. Ash immediately realises this is Team Rocket in disguise and runs to confront them. Weezing's smog holds Ash back for long enough that Team Rocket are able to light the central torch and attach it to some kind of giant mechanical device which uses the torch as a power source! The giant mechanical grasshopper jumps into the arena narrowly missing the trainers, Pikachu tries a thundershock but it doesnt work, Ash sends out Bulbasaur whose Razor Leaf attack is incinerated when Team Rocket's device turns the flames of moltres on the leaves. Ash, Bulbasaur and Pikachu get cornered by Team Rocket and he refuses to move, Team Rocket turn the central torch and flames spray toward Ash.... but he, Pikachu and Bulbasaur are unscathed. As Team Rocket are trying to work out how that can be, it soon becomes apparent, and the flames begin to take a shape, Moltres itself has arrived in the stadium!

Moltres is particularly unimpressed about the misuse of it's flames and destroys Team Rocket's mechanical grasshopper, sending them blasting off. The central torch returns to it's position and Moltres flies into it, lighting it once more. President Goodshow does his speech welcoming all of the trainers to the Pokemon League.
episode077 11165 E# 75

J# 77
E# 75

J# 77
"Round One: Begin!"

"Pokemon Rīgu Kaimaku! Mizu no Fīrudo!" (ポケモンリーグかいまく! みずのフィールド!)
(Pokémon League Begins! Water Field!)
October 30, 1999

December 17, 1998
Professor Oak alongwith Ash's mom and basically everyone else in Pallet town are gathered at Oak's lab watching the Pokemon League coverage on TV. Ash meanwhile officially registers for the Pokemon League and asks who he will be battling at the Indigo Stadium, Brock explains that Ash must win on a Rock, Grass, Water and Ice field before he gets to battle in the main stadium. Ash presses the button that decides where his first match will be, and draws the water field. The system then selects Ash's opponent; a trainer called Mandi is drawn and Ash's match is the third.

Meanwhile Team Rocket are in the Pokemon Trainer Village disguised as news reporters looking for Pokemon to steal, they spot a guy who has some Pidgeotto they'd like to steal and they had over to "interview" him, it turns out he is Mandi the guy Ash will face on the water field later that day. Mandi is arrogant and refers to himself as the astounding Mandi, Mandi declines Team Rockets interview request because he only appears on networks with viewers, James and Meowth manage to just about stop Jessie from punching him and blowing their cover. Misty offers Ash the use of some of her water Pokemon being as he's on the water field, he declines the offer, refuses any of her advice and tells her he and Squirtle will be fine.

The group walks a little further and they again encounter Gary, who has been drawn to battle on the Ice Field first. Gary sarcastically wishes Ash luck in his match, but states that it's only because he wants the pleasure of beating Ash himself, so he can show him what a real Pokemon Master looks like. Gary drops some final abuse to Ash before heading off for his battle, then there is an announcement over the tanoi for Pokemon Trainer Ash Ketchum to head to the nearest phone as theres an important call waiting. Ash gets to the phone to find Professor Oak on the line suggesting he swaps some of his Pokemon, Ash sees Krabby in the background and decides to take it to the Water field with him. Ash see's that his mom, along with many of the townsfolk are also watching in the background. Ash is just thinking how easy the match will be now that he has both Squirtle and Krabby when they bump into Mandi, who refuses to even shake Ash's hand, before saying how easy a win it will be and walking off.

Ash and friends go for something to eat and Misty tries again to give Ash advice, being that Krabby has never even been in a battle so it might not be a good idea to use it in such a tough match, just then there is a news report broadcast reporting on Gary's victory on the Ice Field, where even during his interview he makes a subtle dig at Ash, calling all of the trainers he knows losers.

The battle prior to Ash's finishes, and Ash is up next. The pressure is starting to show, Ash is shaking as he enters the arena. The astounding Mandi is even announced as a Pokemon League favourite. The 3 vs. 3 battle is about to begin, Ash promises Mandi that he has "some tricks of his own and isn't some Twerp", Team Rocket then immediately address Ash from the announcers box with "Hey, Twerp" and tell him they're actually on his side because they really don't like Mandi. Seconds later multiple Officer Jenny's remove Team Rocket from the stadium, and the Pokemon Village.

Mandi and Ash begin their battle, with Mandi sending out Exeggutor and Ash sending out Krabby. Misty continues to back-seat drive and tell him he's making a mistake, Ash ignores her. Exeggutor kicks off with a Psywave, Krabby dodges it by diving into the water and using harden. Unfortunately Exeggutors psychic attacks create a whirlpool, trapping krabby and firing a barrage of Egg Bomb. Ash tries to recall Krabby but can't because of all the splashing water, Krabby emerges from the water and Ash orders a vice-grip, Krabby grips onto Exeggutors leaves and renders it unable to attack. Krabby finishes Exeggutor with a leer and a stomp. The match is over and its 1-0 to Ash. Krabby, much to Mandi's disappointment then evolves into Kingler. Of his two remaining Pokemon, Mandi then sends out Seadra to face Kingler and opens with an agility attack, Kingler tries to hit back with water gun and bubble but misses the first few attacks, Mandi says that Kingler is too slow and doesn't stand a chance of hitting his Seadra while its using agility, but seconds later Kingler lands a hit with bubble attack, knocking Seadra spinning into the air before finishing it with Krab Hammer. It's 2-0 to Ash and Mandi only has one Pokemon left, Ash doesn't seem as scared anymore and the crowd seem to be on his side. The astounding Mandi sends out Golbat next, which is a good move considering Kingler is really weak against air attacks, Ash takes this advice and sends Kingler underwater. As Mandi's Golbat skims the waters surface Ash instructs a vice-grip, it looks like Kingler's got it but the Golbat is a little too quick and hits back with Razor Wind, Golbat is about to follow up with a Mega Drain but Kingler gets a Hyper Beam off just in time. Golbat is unable to battle, victory goes to the team of Ash and Kingler. Ash wins his first battle 3-0 without even changing Pokemon, Mandi the astounded is beaten and dejected.

Ash's confidence has skyrocketed and his post-match interview with the media is a little short on dignity and restraint. The second round is just around the corner.
episode078 11166 E# 76

J# 78
E# 76

J# 78
"Fire and Ice"

"Kōri no Fīrudo! Honō no Tatakai!" (こおりのフィールド! ほのおのたたかい!)
(Ice Field! Blazing Battle!)
November 6, 1999

December 24, 1998
After winning a thrilling first round victory, Ash is battling on the Rock field with only one Pokemon left. The opponent sends out a powerful Nidorino, Ash chooses Squirtle, despite the fact that Pikachu really wanted to battle. The Nidorino immediately charges Squirtle, Ash orders Squirtle to withdraw and roll, Nidorino chases, Squirtle uses the stadium as a ramp and whilst in the air hits Nidorino with a water gun attack, then finishes it off with a skull bash. Ash secures his second victory with only Squirtle remaining and the crowd goes nuts. Gary watches on disdainfully at the sight of his rival doing well.

Thousands of people are inside rooting for Ash, while Team Rocket is outside rooting through trash. Misty returns to their cabin and finds Ash's Pokemon eating, Brock says Ash rushed off to go eat because he was starving. Misty isn't impressed that he didn't even take his Pokemon to the Pokemon Center.

Ash and Pikachu are walking around the Pokemon Village looking for something to eat, while they look for a restaurant they see signs for the "Pokemon in Love Movie" as well as a parade and other cool events. Misty and Brock catch up to him, Misty gives Ash some abuse for not taking his Pokemon to the Pokemon Center before eating and they head off to find it. Upon arrival however theres a large group of trainers outside the Pokemon Center door and they don't sound too happy. Nurse Joy then announces that due to the Pokemon League competition that her Center is now completely full, and trainers whose Pokemon need urgent treatment should head to the next nearest Pokemon Centers. The group carries on walking but Ash spots an all-you-can-eat buffet and runs in, unfortunately his pockets are empty and he has no money. A waitress comes over and gives him a plate, Ash initially thinks its because she is a fan of his after seeing his first two matches, but it turns out that all Pokemon trainers competing in the league get to eat for free. Misty comes in and finds Ash and Pikachu eating five plates of food and politely asks him to not let the two wins send him crazy. They then realise that Brock has disappeared, when they go outside the restaurant there are Officer Jenny's and Nurse Joy's running around everywhere and it soon becomes apparent that Brock may have been 'distracted'.

Misty, Ash and Pikachu leave Brock to admire the Jenny's and Joy's and go to the next Pokemon Center, but its really crowded. A mysterious nurse beckons them to a dark corner and tells them that they know where a Pokemon Center is that isn't too crowded AND has its own Nurse Joy, before leading them to a curious looking Pokemon Center and inviting them inside. The peculiar Nurse takes all of the groups Pokemon including Pikachu. Misty senses that something isn't right, but theres a Nurse Joy in front of them so it must be ok, the Nurse Joy isn't speaking and Brock finds it worrying that he hasn't had his usual reaction to Nurse Joy. Ash says maybe Brock just wasn't "prepared" for all the Nurse Joy's he saw and maybe thats the "trouble" prompting a very strange reaction from Nurse Joy and the other Nurse who have no choice upon hearing those words to reveal their true identities as Jessie and James of Team Rocket. Brock tells Ash he knew something wasn't right because he didn't react to Nurse Joy the way he normally does, while they discuss that the building opens up and their Balloon begins to depart (with the groups Pokemon in it). Brock still had his Onix for emergencies such as this one and sends it out to stop the balloon, retrieve their PokéBalls and send Team Rocket blasting off.

There is another announcement on the tanoi that Pokemon Center's in the area are now accepting new Pokemon, so Ash and the group visit a legit Pokemon Center.

The next day on the Ice field Ash is up against a trainer named Pete Pebbleman from Pewter City in a 3v3 battle, both trainers find themselves with 2 Pokemon left and it's Ash's Kingler vs. Pebblemans Cloyster. Kingler goes after Cloyster but Cloyster withdraws into it's rock hard shell. Ash is worried that if Kingler gets worn out he'll have to change Pokemon, but Misty tells him Cloyster should be losing hitpoints from the attacks too, Ash tells Kingler to hit it with everything its got and it keeps going until Cloyster's shell pops open and its rendered unable to battle. Ash has two Pokemon remaining and Pebbleman sends out his final Pokemon; Arcanine, a very surprising choice against a water type. Ash, appearing a little overconfident orders a Bubblebeam but Arcanine dodges it before launching a very surprising Dragon-rage attack. Ash sends out Pikachu whose agility confuses Arcanine, Pebbleman responds by melting away all the ice on the field leaving only two little islands, with a Pokemon on each. Arcanine is about to hit Pikachu with a Fire blast but it dives in just in time. Pikachu rises from the water to find a rather menacing Arcanine right above it, after momentarily forgetting that water conducts electricity Pikachu then performs a thunderbolt, amplified by the water and Arcanine is defeated.
episode079 11167 E# 77

J# 79
E# 77

J# 79
"The Fourth Round Rumble"

"Kusa no Fīrudo! Igai na Kyōteki!" (くさのフィールド! いがいなきょうてき!)
(Grass Field! Unexpected Rival!)
November 13, 1999

January 1, 1999
The crowds are cheering in anticipation as our fourth round winner is about to be decided, but this time our heroes are cheering in the stands as spectators, waiting to see if Gary will emerge victory. Gary and a trainer called Melissa both have one Pokemon left each, Gary's Nidoking faces Melissa's Golem and after Nidoking's Horn attack fails Golem uses a Seismic Toss to win the battle and secure Victory for Melissa. Gary is defeated and is out of this years Pokemon League competition. Gary packs up his car and cheerleaders, and gets ready to go as Ash approaches him, Gary hides how upset he is, says the trainer was lucky and that the girls will get over it, says goodbye and drives off. Ash sees now how tough the competition here really is and considers quitting while his ahead, Brock tells him that he's a great trainer and Ash won't be quitting while he's around. Misty then calls then both over as Ash's fourth round match is about to begin.

Team Rocket meanwhile are have sneaked back into the Pokemon League venue and are running a goods stall as a cover while they wait for an oppurtunity to steal some Pokemon. However Jessie and James seem to be enjoying doing a normal job a little bit too much and Meowth reminds them what they're there to do. At the same time Ash is on the grass field and about to start his next match against a trainer named Jeanette fisher. This time Ash doesn't have Misty and Brock in his corner, he's asked them to stay in the crowds as spectators to prove he can win alone. The battle begins, Jeanette sends out Beedrill against Ash's Bulbasaur, and it's obviously well trained, it looks as though Beedrill has the edge until Bulbasaur lands a leech seed which knocks Beedrill out of the air, and Bulbasaur finishes it off with a tackle attack. It's 1-0 to Ash but Jeanettes cheerleading squad cheer as though she'd won. Next Jeanette sends out Scyther, who comes straight at Bulbasaur with its slash attack and then goes at it even more with a quick attack, Bulbasaur manages to dodge many of the attacks and tries to counter with the vine whip, but can't get a connection with Scyther. Jeanette then commands Scyther to use Double Team and Bulbasaur is faced with three images of Scyther, only one of which is real. Things look really bad for Ash who tells Bulbasaur to use Vine whip, but gets the wrong target twice. Scyther continues to use its agility against Bulbasaur, evading both it's Razor Leaf and Vine Whip and then connecting with a quick attack, Bulbasaur is thrown into the air, Ash works out that Scyther is weak on defence while using its Double Team and tells Bulbasaur to hit all of them with it's Vine Whips, one of them connects and knocks Scyther to the ground, claiming victory. It's 2-0 to Ash and Jeanette only has one Pokemon left.

The scene changes to the crowds outside of the stadium in the Pokemon Village, and Team Rocket use their Balloon, with a load of attached Pikachu balloons as a distraction to try and steal all of the trainers Pokemon. There plan falls a little short when a couple of Officer Jenny's spot there balloon and order a Growlithe to burn it out of the air, they defiantly continue to try and use their Pokéball suction device to steal from the trainers but another pair of Officer Jenny's have a) turned it off and b) given them a ticket.

Back in the battle Jeanette selects her final Pokemon; to everyones surprise its a Bellsprout, this makes Ash even more overconfident, sending Bulbasaur straight in for a tackle, Jeanettes badly balanced Bellsprout leans back and easily dodges it, an angry Bulbasaur charges it again and Bellsprout uses the force of Bulbasaurs own attack against him, eventually claiming victory. It's now 2-1 to Ash, Ash chooses Pikachu as his next Pokemon who attacks with a thundershock, but Bellsprout is more agile than it looks and somehow despite its terrible balance evades the attacks before returning fire with a Razor Leaf. Pikachu dodges it, and hits Bellsprout with a Thunderbolt - Bellsprout uses its legs as mini lightning rods and is completely immune to the electric attacks. Pikachu tries to attack Bellsprout hand to hand but is beaten by one strong root to the head. It's 2-2 and Ash has just one Pokemon left. Just then Professor Oak and Ash's mom arrive in the crowds and sit next to Misty and Brock, they add to the pressure on Ash by shouting that he's the only trainer left from Pallet in the competition since Gary was knocked out. Ash then sends out his final Pokemon which is also a big surprise to everyone; it's Muk! Apparently Ash had actually thought ahead and asked Professor Oak to transfer his Muk over for this very battle.

Bellsprout relentlessly attacks Muk with everything it has, but Muk is completely unaffected. Muk lands one body slam attack on Bellsprout and pins it under its toxic body, eventually incapacitating it and winning the match for Ash. The Fourth Round Victory goes to Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and the crowd goes nuts.

Jessie, James and Meowth sold out all of their souvenirs and are satisfied with their days semi-honest work. Meowth again mocks the fact that they enjoy normal work and suggests they open a fast-food joint, Jessie and James entertain the idea and start thinking of rhymes to do with it. Ash, his mom, Oak and his friends celebrate his victory.
episode080 11168 E# 78

J# 80
E# 78

J# 80
"A Friend in Deed"

"Raibaru Tōjō!" (ライバルとうじょう!)
(Rival Appears!)
November 20, 1999

January 7, 1999
Ash, Misty and Brock are walking around the Pokemon League Village when they decide to go for a meal to celebrate Ash's victory. They then see Ash's mom and Professor Oak, his mom says shes going to cook him his favourite but Ash doesn't understand where she's going to cook, as the chalets they're staying in don't have cookers. They head to one of the Pokemon League restaurants and it soon becomes apparent; Ash's mom briefly takes over the restaurants kitchens and makes everyone dinner (Pokemon included) before coming to join everyone herself. Everyone enjoys the meal and apparently the Chef even asked her for the recipe.

At the table they discuss whats next, and Oak tells Ash that if he wins his next battle he'll be able to use Six Pokemon in battle after that. Oak also offers to transfer any additional Pokemon Ash needs over to him right away, but Ash wants to see who he's up against first. They leave the restaurant and get into the lift, when another trainer asks them to hold the door and gets into the lift with them, this trainer see's Pikachu and pets it without getting shocked, then telling Ash he did a really great job raising his Pikachu. The power goes out on the lift, even the emergency call button doesn't work and the group is stuck in the lift. That is until the trainer who joined them in the lift messes with some wiring and then uses Pikachu's electricity to jumpstart the lift for just long enough to make it to the lobby. The trainer introduces himself as Ritchie, and says goodbye.

There is an announcement from a vehicle outside for trainers to bring their Pokéballs for official inspection immediately. While in the queue to have his Pokemon examined, Ash bumps into Ritchie again, the trainer from the lift and realises that he too must be in the Pokemon League. The inspectors state that any trainers who don't turn in ALL of their Pokemon will be disqualified from the league. The female league inspector tries to pick up Pikachu and despite being electrocuted still manages to get it into the bag. The male inspector lets slip that the female inspectors name is Jessie and it's then that both Ash and Ritchie realise exactly who they are; Team Rocket. They jump onto the roof of their vehicle and hit all the trainers with Weezings smog as a cover to enable them to jump into the drivers seat and leave via the Center Gate. Ash and Ritchie chase them, Ash dangerously runs straight down a steep hillside, Ritchie chases but shouts for him to stop, Ritchie tackles Ash to the ground just in time to stop him dropping off a cliff edge, Ash angrily shoves Ritchie off and the two continue on, blocking Team Rocket in the road and causing them to steer off course down a hill and down a river. Ash and Ritchie continue to pursue them for hours and hours into the night, Ritchie suggests they get some sleep and look for Team Rocket and their Pokemon when they can see where they're going, Ash doesn't look sure but when Ritchie, who is obviously mature and prepared offers him a spare sleeping bag he accepts. The two sit beside a fire lit by Ritchie and Ash apologises for shoving him, the two find they have a lot in common and become friends.

Meanwhile Team Rocket are sat at a clearing in the woods eating a meal to celebrate their haul of Pokemon. Ash and Ritchie can't really sleep and are mostly just chatting and staring at the sky to see what sort of Pokemon shaped patterns they can see in the stars, while learning that they both share the same goal of becoming Pokemon Masters.

The next day Ash and Ritchie begin their search once more and spot some tire tracks near the river, they follow the tracks back to Team Rocket's camp and find Jessie, James and Meowth asleep. They enter Team Rockets RV and find Pikachu and all the trainers Pokéballs. Team Rocket however have woken up, and lock the two, along with Pikachu and the Pokéballs in the back of the R.V and start driving off. Ritchie quickly finds his own Pokémon from the huge bag of Pokéballs due to the stickers he placed on top of them all which enable him to quickly find them. Ash however isn't so prepared and has no true way of telling his own Pokéballs from everyone elses, having to go through some serious trial and error before Pikachu then tells Bulbasaurs Pokéball by scent. Bulbasaur tries a tackle attack followed by a razor leaf on the R.V's walls.

Ritchie sends out Zippo, his Charmander who uses its slash attack and breaks the wall between them and Team Rocket. Jessie sends Arbok to attack, and just as Pikachu is about to hit it with thunderbolt James performs a driving manouevere knocking Pikachu off balance and allowing Arbok to attack. Ritchie calls out his own Pikachu, "Sparky" and the two chu's easily overwhelm Arbok, their dual thunderbolts destroy the front of the vehicle and send Team Rocket blasting off. The danger isn't over however and the remains of the vehicle they're still onboard heads toward a cliff edge. Ritchies quick thinking to use his Butterfree and Ash's Pidgeotto as parachutes to slow their falls buys them some time, but they're still heading toward the ground too quick. Ritchie tells Ash to command Pidgeotto to use whirlwind, aiming it toward the ground, Ritchies Butterfree does the same, and this slows their falls just enough that they aren't hurt when they land. Seconds later a group of Jeeps arrive led by a group of Officer jenny's aswell as Misty and Brock.

Everyone arrives back at Pokemon League HQ where the next round is being drawn. Ash uses a rod to pick a random trainer ID out of a pool, he draws "A-3" which means he is seeded against his new friend Ritchie in the next battle.
episode081 11169 E# 79

J# 81
E# 79

J# 81
"Friend and Foe Alike"

"Sekiei Sutajiamu! Tai Hiroshi!" (セキエイスタジアム! VSヒロシ!)
(Sekiei Stadium! Vs. Hiroshi!)
November 27, 1999

January 14, 1999
While together foiling a Team Rocket scheme Ash and Ritchie became friends, but now a cruel twist of fate pits them against each other in their next Pokemon League battle.

Back at the Cabin Ash is feeling a little down about how unlucky he was to get drawn against his friend. Misty then calls him over, she's at a computer accessing the Pokemon League database and looking at data on Ritchie, it shows that he won all of his first four rounds without losing any Pokemon. The stats also say that Ritchie has only used three Pokemon; Charmander, Butterfree and Pikachu. Brock points out that this is almost the exact same type setup that Ash uses, Misty then jumps in and adds that it will be all about who is the better trainer, meaning Ash is probably in trouble.

Meanwhile Ritchie heads to the Pokemon Center and collects his Pokemon, Ash bumps into him when he goes to collect his own Pokemon. Ritchie tells Ash that because they're friends they should promise each other to make this the best battle they've ever had. Nurse Joy hands Ash his Pokemon and says that she thinks Ash is lucky to be battling a friend, because even if Ash doesn't win, it means his friend at least does.

Team Rocket are on the roof of the Pokemon Center listening in, trying to think of ways to use Ash and Ritchies friendship against them. Misty answers the phone back at their chalet, it's Ritchie and he's really rude to her, calling her stuck up. Ritchie asks Ash to go and meet him so he can tell him something important about Pikachu. Unfortunately, it wasn't Ritchie, it was Team Rocket using a voice changer, they've lured Ash out into the woods and captured him and Pikachu. Ash protests that he doesn't have time for this because he needs to get to his match, Team Rocket throw Ash and Pikachu into the back of their truck and start driving off. It's just 30 minutes until Ash's next Pokemon League match and Misty and Brock are starting to get worried.

Team Rocket continue driving away, Ash uses Squirtle to fill the truck with water which causes them to crash, taking the oppurtunity to escape. Jessie, James and Meowth aren't done yet however and block his path, stating that if he wants to get to his Pokemon League match he'll have to get through them first. Ash sends out Bulbasaur and attacks them with his Vine Whip, Pikachu then electrocutes them. Ash and Pikachu run back toward the Pokemon League, but Team Rocket AGAIN reappear, this time on bikes, they use Weezings smog attack to slow Ash and Pikachu, giving him the ultimatum "Give us your Pikachu, or miss your Pokemon League match". While still shrouded in smog, Ash remembers his promise to Ritchie, steals one of Team Rocket's bikes and cycles full speed toward the stadium.

Ritchie is in the arena waiting for Ash, who is now late. Misty runs into the arena and starts attacking Ritchie for how rude he was to her on the phone, Ritchie tells Misty he never called her and he never spoke to Ash. Misty realises something is wrong, as does Ritchie. Meanwhile Team Rocket have AGAIN caught up to Ash and Pikachu, using a mechanical grabbing device to grab Ash, Pikachu and the Bike. Ash uses Pidgeotto and Pikachu to drive Team Rocket away and continues to the stadium using Team Rocket's balloon which is now being pulled by Pidgeotto. The Pokemon League referee approaches Ritchie to award him the default win but Ritchie begs for ten minutes longer, the minutes pass by quickly and the referee returns to award the win to Ritchie but Ash arrives just in time. Unfortunately at this point his Pidgeotto is exhausted, and Pikachu has seen better days too.

The crowd cheers Ash's long awaited arrival and the match begins. Ritchie sends out "Happy" his Butterfree, and Ash sends out Squirtle, Happy manages to win the first battle after using sleep powder to put Squirtle to sleep. Pikachu volunteers to go out next and immediately tackles Butterfree out of the air, Pikachu sits on Happy until Happy struggles to take it into the air, prime territory for Pikachu to unleash the thunderbolt that finishes it. It's 1-1, Pikachu is noticeably tired and Ritchie sends out Zippo, his Charmander. Pikachu is tired and not at its best performance, Ritchies Charmander defeats it. Ash knows he can't use Bulbasaur against a fire type and takes a chance on Charizard. Zippo attacks with a flamethrower but Charizard overwhelms it with powerful flames until Ritchie recalls it. The two now have just one Pokemon left, Ritchie sends out Sparky, his Pikachu to face Charizard. Charizard mocks Ritchie's Pikachu, which Charizard see's as too weak to bother battling and then goes to sleep mid-battle, costing Ash the match.

Ash is now out of the Pokemon League, and Ritchie proceeds to the next round. Ritchie approaches Ash, who hides his disappointment for a moment and congratulates Ritchie, wishing him luck in the next round. It appears that Ash has took the loss surprisingly well.
episode082 11170 E# 80

J# 82
E# 80

J# 82
"Friends to the End"

"Pokemon Rīgu! Saigo no Tatakai!" (ポケモンリーグ! さいごのたたかい!)
(Pokémon League! Final Battle!)
November 27, 1999

January 21, 1999
Since the unfortunate events which lead to Ash being defeated by Ritchie in the Pokemon League Ash has been just lying in his bed in the Pokemon League chalet they've been staying at and won't come out or speak to anyone. Ash's mom, Prof. Oak, Misty and Brock are outside discussing whats wrong with Ash, Brock decides he must be depressed, Misty says he can't just mope around and goes inside to speak to Ash, inviting him to go for something to eat, he rejects the request and she suggests a walk, he tells her to go and walk on her own, she then suggests they go and look at some souvenirs and takes Ash by the arm, he pushes her off and the pair start to argue. Professor Oak comes in and tells Ash he should've trained harder and trained his Charizard properly, which would've resulted in him potentially going further, advising him that theres only so far strength and intuition can get you. Ash and Misty start to argue again til Pikachu calms everyone down with some thunder. They then notice on the TV that Ritchie is about to begin his match.

Ritchie meanwhile is in the locker room waiting to go out to his next battle when Ash and friends arrive to wish him luck. Ritchie's next battle is a 6v6 battle, which Ash tells Ritchie he's sure he can win because he's an awesome trainer and with that Ritchie leaves to begin his next match.

After a spectacular battle Ritchie and his opponent; Assunta both have just one Pokemon left, Assunta sends out her Ivysaur and Ritchie sends out Sparky, his Pikachu. Assunta's Ivysaur wastes no time, and charges straight at Sparky, who manages to just about avoid it but is then hit with a Vine Whip. Sparky attempts to hit a charging Ivysaur with a thundershock but misses, Ivysaur uses its whips to launch itself into the air and lands a powerful solar beam attack on Sparky before finishing it off with a tackle. Ritchie loses and is out of the Pokemon League competition, Assunta progressing to the next round. Ash and friends are also sad about Ritchie's defeat.

Later on Ash finds Ritchie by a lake, and now the two have one more thing in common, they've both been knocked out of the Pokemon League. They let their Pikachu play together, and Ritchie tells Ash that they can learn a lot from losing. Team Rocket are watching them from the bushes, scheming to steal both Pikachu. Ritchie tells Ash that losing taught him what mistakes not to make next time and made him a better trainer for it, Ash realises he has been acting like a big baby and the two promise each other that they will become Pokemon Master's no matter what.

Just seconds later both Pikachu's fall into one of Team Rockets traps and Ash and Ritchie rush over and meet the same fate. Looking up from the hole, they see Jessie and James standing over them as expected. Ash tells them they won't get away with this and tries to climb out, before losing his grip, falling back onto Ritchie and the floor collapsing, landing them in an even deeper hole. It seems that Team Rocket set up this latest trap to have multiple tiers, so each time they try to climb out and fail they fall even deeper into the pit. Team Rocket use a mechanical arm to cage the Chu's and start trying to depart, Ash and Ritchie use their Pidgeottos and Butterfree respectively to escape the hole and confront Team Rocket. Ash immediately sends out Bulbasaur, Weezing counters with smog but Ash shields Bulbasaur from it and uses Pidgeottos gust attack to send the smog right back at them. Ash tells Ritchie to send out Zippo, his Charmander, Ash uses Razor leaf to chop down the cage and get the chu's out of the way before Zippo sets Team Rocket on fire. The Pikachu charge the cage with electricity and throw it back to Team Rocket who catch it and get shocked into oblivion, blasting off once more.

Ash and Ritchie shake hands and celebrate yet another defeat of Team Rocket. Misty and Brock arrive and suggest they all go out for dinner, inviting Ritchie to join them too. It's the closing ceremony of the Pokemon League and all the trainers who participated line up in the stadium one more time to recieve there special commemorative trophy as a symbol of their achievement, and the top three trainers take to a pedestal and are congratulated by the crowd. A massive fireworks display begins to celebrate the closing of the league.

Team Rocket aren't done yet and dig their way underneat the stadium, unfortunately for them, they dig directly under where a huge firework has just been lit, and it sends them blasting off (again). Later that evening Ash and Ritchie are sat side by side in the now empty stadium reflecting on the events of the past few days before saying their goodbyes. Ash reminds Ritchie of their promises to each other to become Pokemon masters no matter what, and the pair go their seperate ways.

Ash's Travelling Companions

Ash sets off on his Pokemon Journey with Pikachu, but after destroying Misty's bike in Episode 2 she vows to follow him until he pays her back for the bike. Ash and Misty then travel together to Pewter City where Ash meets and eventually defeats Brock in the Pewter Gym, Brocks father returns to the gym after many years enabling Brock to leave and follow his ambitions of becoming a great Pokemon Breeder, he too follows Ash and Misty on their journey.

The trio of Ash, Misty and Brock then travelled together for the entirity of this Season, they were also joined for a few episodes by Todd Snap who they met in Pokemon Episode 55 after Jessie and James inadvertantly hired him to 'capture' Ash's Pikachu on film but he went his own way after that.

Brock Misty Todd
Brock, Misty and Todd (left, centre, right respectively)

Key Events & Gym Battles

Events of noteAsh recieving his starter Pokemon in Season 1 Episode 1
  • Ash Ketchum recieves his starter Pokemon; Pikachu from Professor Oaks lab and begins his journey (Episode 1)
  • Gary Oak recieves his starter Pokemon; a Squirtle from Professor Oaks lab and begins his journey. (Episode 1)
  • Ash "borrows" and destroys Misty's Bike, she vows to follow him until he pays her back. (Episode 2)
  • Jessie, James and Meowth notice that Pikachu is particularly powerful for its specie and take an interest in stealing it (Episode 2)
  • After Ash defeats Brock in the Pewter Gym, Brocks father returns home to run the gym, allowing Brock to travel with Brock and Misty on their journey and for him to follow his own dream of becoming a Pokemon breeder (Episode 5).
  • Ash finally obtained all eight gym badges required for entry into the Pokemon League after winning an Earth Badge from Team Rocket at the Viridian Gym. (Episode 63).
  • Ash and friends meet Master Bruno of the Elite Four at Mt. Hideaway, hoping he can help Ash some secrets to help him at the Pokemon League. (Episode 71).
  • Ash has his first ever Pokemon League match, against a trainer called Mandi the Astounding. (Episode 75).

Gym battles
Ash defeats the following Gym Leaders in Season 1:Pikachu vs RaichuAsh's Pikachu battling Surge's Raichu
  • Episode 5: Brock, who he defeats in his second attempt, initially being beaten, earning the Boulder Badge.
  • Episode 7: Misty, although he was actually awarded the Cascade badge more for saving the gym from Team Rocket than for the battle.
  • Episode 14: Lt. Surge, who he defeats on his second attempt, after learning from his initial defeat. This earned Ash the Thunder Badge.
  • Episode 24: Ash finally "sort of" defeats Sabrina after two failed attempts. The Haunter he brings to her Gym makes her laugh and reunites Sabrina's family, Sabrina's father awards him the Marsh Badge as thanks for that.
  • Episode 26: Erika did look like she was going to lose to Ash but then her gym set on fire. Erika awarded Ash her Rainbow badge after he saved her Gloom from the burning gym.
  • Episode 32: Ash beat Koga first uninterrupted try, and actually did win fair and square in a straight match. Ash recieves the Soul Badge for winning.
  • Episode 59: After initially losing to blaine, Charizard steps up to take on his Magmar and prevails. Ash recieves the Volcano Badge.
  • Episode 63: Although Giovanni is the leader of the Viridian Gym, Jessie and James were left in charge of it at the time Ash arrived and they battled him in Giovanni's stead, despite some dirty tricks Ash won and recieved the Earth Badge.

Pokemon: Captures, Changes, Encounters & Evolutions

All about the Pokemon we see in the first season, whether we see them caught, they were already owned prior to the events of Season 1 or we witnessed them via evolution they're all here broken down into different tables. There's also a table for the Pokemon we said goodbye to this season.

New Pokemon captured by Ash & Other Characters
A list of Pokemon we see Ash, Misty, Brock and other characters capture on their Pokemon journey.
Pokemon Caught By Episode Notes
025 PikachuPikachu Ash 1 Granted to him by Professor Oak as a starter Pokemon
010 CaterpieCaterpie Ash 3 Straight capture
017 PidgeottoPidgeotto Ash 3 Straight capture
041 ZubatZubat Brock 6 Straight capture
001 BulbasaurBulbasaur Ash 10 Melanie asked Ash to take Bulbasaur to help it see the world and grow.
004 CharmanderCharmander Ash 11 Charmander's trainer abandoned it, Ash and co saved it. Charmander chose Ash over Damien.
007 SquirtleSquirtle Ash 12 Squirtle decided to join Ash after working together to defeat Team Rocket & saving a town from a fire.
098 KrabbyKrabby Ash 13 Straight capture
129 MagikarpMagikarp James 15 James was sold the Magikarp by an unscrupulous salesman who promised it would make him rich.
020 RaticateRaticate Ash 15 Ash traded his Butterfree for an unnamed Gentleman's Raticate. He felt bad and traded it back after.
116 HorseaHorsea Misty 19 Straight capture
057 PrimeapePrimeape Ash 25 Straight capture
054 PsyduckPsyduck Misty 27 Nurse Joy had been caring for the Psyduck for a prolonged period due to it's headaches, and asks Misty to take care of it.
037 VulpixVulpix Brock 28 Suzie, Vulpix' owner saw that it took a liking to Brock, and his homemade food. She asks Brock to take Vulpix on his journey.
089 MukMuk Ash 30 Straight capture
128 TaurosTauros Ash 35 Multiple straight Safari Zone captures
137 PorygonPorygon Jessie 38 Jessie stole the prototype Porygon in order to access the virtual world and steal Pokemon from within the virtual transfer system.
175Togepi Misty 50 Ash found an egg, Brock cared for it, when the egg hatched the baby Pokemon saw Misty first and took a liking to her.
108 LickitungLickitung Jessie 52 Lickitung ate a load of food that Jessie bought in the sales to give to Giovanni as a gift. Jessie captured it in anger.
070 WeepinbellWeepinbel James 57 Straight capture, but we didn't see it happen

Pokemon caught / owned prior to the events of Pokemon Season 1
These Pokemon were already owned / associated with people prior to the events we see onscreen.
Pokemon Trainer Notes
058 Growlithe"Growly" James James' loyal growlithe he grew up with, Growly was his only friend back on the posh estate he grew up in.
023 EkansEkans Jessie Jessie had this Pokemon the first time we saw her in Episode 2.
109 KoffingKoffing James James had this Pokemon the first time we ever saw him in Episode 2.
118 GoldeenGoldeen Misty Misty already had this Pokemon when Ash met her in Episode 2.
095 OnixOnix Brock Brock already had this Pokemon prior to Episode 5.
074 GeodudeGeodude Brock Brock already had this Pokemon prior to Episode 5.
120 StaryuStaryu Misty Misty already had this Pokemon prior to Episode 6.
121 StarmieStarmie Misty Misty already had this Pokemon prior to Episode 7.

Evolution
We see the following Pokémon evolutions take place during this season
Pokemon Evolved to Episode Trainer Notes
010 CaterpieCaterpie 011 MetapodMetapod 3 Ash Evolves after defeating Team Rocket.
011 MetapodMetapod 012 ButterfreeButterfree 4 Ash Evolves after Ash rescues it from Beedrill captivity
129 MagikarpMagikarp 130 GyaradosGyarados 16 James James was horrible to Magikarp and kicked it, it evolved into Gyarados to punish James for his actions.
023 EkansEkans 024 ArbokArbok 31 Jessie Seemed to see that Jessie really wanted it to evolve, and it did.
109 KoffingKoffing 110 WeezingWeezing 31 James Seemed to see that James really wanted it to evolve, and it did.
004 CharmanderCharmander 005 CharmeleonCharmeleon 43 Ash Charmander evolved after helping to repel a group of stampeding Exeggutor, saving a town in the process.
005 CharmeleonCharmeleon 006 CharizardCharizard 46 Ash Charmeleon evolved out of pure frustration at being unable to battle Aerodactyl.
070 WeepinbellWeepinbell 071 VictreebellVictreebel Pre-57 James We didn't see this take place, after breaking into the Breeding Center James realises its the one he left his Weepinbel in, he looks around
and finds it has evolved into Victreebel, enjoys a brutal reunion and then takes it with him.

Pokemon released
There were a number of occasions where either Ash or another character released a captured Pokémon back into the wild, or left with someone else for one reason or another.
Pokemon Trainer Episode Notes
130 GyaradosGyarados James 16 James rejected his Magikarp, kicking it to the ocean. Sort of releasing it back into the wild. It then evolved into Gyarados.
012 ButterfreeButterfree Ash 21 During the butterfree mating season Ash's Butterfree fell in love with a Pink Butterfree and the two crossed the ocean to start a family together.
057 PrimeapePrimeape Ash 29 Left his Primeape to train with Anthony at his gym.
137 PorygonPorygon Jessie 38 Jessie left her Porygon inside the virtual world that she and her peers narrowly escaped.

TV Broadcasts & Original Airing Dates

This season of Pokemon first aired in Japan and spanned April 1st, 1997 to January 28th, 1999. The English dub then followed in the U.S from September 8th, 1998 to November 27th, 1999 on W.B Kids. To this date is remains the longest running Pokemon Season.WB Kids

The episode numbers we give to the Pokemon episodes in our list are based on the following:
  • English dub air dates are based on the sequential order in which episodes were aired on The WB Television network in the U.S.A
  • Japanese air dates are based on the sequential order in which episodes were aired on TV Tokyo

Since these original airings, Western showings of this Season of the Pokemon anime have aired in the same order that they originally did in Japan, with of course the exception of the couple of banned episodes.
TV Tokyo
About half way through the initial U.S airings on WB, YTV Canada also picked up the series and from there on aired it in line with the U.S broadcasts until some point during Season 3.

Pokemon Indigo League: DVD & Blu-Ray / Streaming

Episodes from this season were initially release over 26 different DVDs and videos between December 13th, 1998 and January 23rd, 2001.

A couple of years later between 2006 and 2008 Viz media re-released a handful of the episodes on three random compilation DVD's. Nearly another decade passed and then Magna Entertainment released the first half of Pokemon Indigo League on DVD and Blu Ray as a box set in the UK.

Here are a couple of links to purchase the DVD's or Blu Ray's of Pokemon Season 1 on Amazon.
Pokemon Indigo League Season 1
(UK) (5 Blu Ray or DVD Set)
Pokemon Indigo League Season 1
(USA) (DVD or Blu Ray)
Pokemon Indigo League Episodes 1-26
(USA) (3 DVD Set)
Pokemon Season 1 & 2 Collection
(UK) (12 DVD Set)

 

 

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