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#1 POKÉMON -- I CHOOSE YOU!

Now that Ash Ketchum is old enough to get his Pokémon license, he can begin his journey to become a Pokémon Master. Unfortunately, the night before he is to leave ,he stays up so late debating which Pokémon he should choose that he oversleeps. By the time he reaches the home of Professor Oak, the local man in charge of helping young trainers, all of the 'good' Pokémon have already been chosen. The only one left is the electric mouse Pikachu. At first, Ash is glad to just have any Pokémon, but Pikachu proves to be very temperamental. He refuses to stay in a Pokéball and zaps the boy whenever he feels threatened or angry.

Having made an uneasy truce with the cute mouse, Ash begins his journey. Soon, he spots a wild Pidgey strolling through the grass. According to Ash's Pokédex, trainers usually use their trained Pokémon to battle wild Pokémon before capturing them. Since Pikachu won't help, Ash attempts to catch the Pidgey by himself. He fails, of course, and ends up angering nearly every Pokémon in the forest. Fleeing for his life, Ash must learn to work with Pikachu if he hopes to become a Pokémon Master.

#2 POKÉMON EMERGENCY!

There's trouble in Viridian City. Someone has been swiping Pokémon from local trainers. On the look-out for the most nefarious of these thieves, Team Rocket, Officer Jenny instead catches Ash running into town with an injured Pokémon. At first, she's suspicious of the boy, thinking that he may have stolen Pikachu. But once Ash explains that Pikachu just finished fighting a flock of angry Spearows, she offers to ride the duo to the Emergency Room of the Viridian City Pokémon Center.

Nurse Joy, the woman in charge of the Pokémon Center, is appalled at Pikachu's condition. As she takes the poor electric mouse to be treated, she accuses Ash of being an unfit trainer. This, of course, makes Ash feel rotten. After telephoning his mother, he receives a call from Professor Oak, who relates how well his grandson Gary is doing with his Pokémon trainer. As if this isn't enough bad news, Misty appears, carrying the charred remains of the bicycle which Ash and Pikachu borrowed from her. Although she begins yelling at Ash, she quickly offers her sympathy when she learns how hurt Pikachu is.

Eventually, Nurse Joy wheels out Pikachu on a hospital gurney. Provided that he remains undisturbed, he should fully recover. This proves unlikely, though, as Jesse, James, and Meowth, the three members of Team Rocket, burst into the Emergency Room and announce their plan to steal all of the Center's unique and rare Pokémon.

#3 ASH CATCHES A POKÉMON

In the Viridian Forest, Ash easily captures a cute, bug Pokémon known as a Caterpie. Misty is less than thrilled because she finds all insects disgusting. Matters are made worse when Caterpie becomes infatuated with Misty. He nuzzles against her leg and falls asleep next to her. Since Ash plans to keep the Caterpie, Ash suggests that he and Misty part company. But, Misty still holds Ash responsible for destroying her bike. Although she obviously would love to get as far away from Caterpie as possible, she continues to be Ash's traveling companion.

Ash's luck as a Pokémon trainer continues as he skillfully battles and captures a Pidgeotto. His joy over the event is short-lived, though, because Team Rocket makes one of its annoying intrusions. Jesse and James remark on how impressive Pikachu's fighting prowess was at the Viridian City Pokémon Center. Since their goal is to collect all rare and unusual Pokémon, they've targeted Ash's Pikachu as their next acquisition. They send out their Pokémon to battle Ash. Koffing quickly slimes Pikachu and Ekans terrorizes Pidgeotto. Unfortunately, Ash must rely on his meek Caterpie to save the day. .

#4 CHALLENGE OF THE SAMURAI

Misty jumps for cover when she spies a new insect in the forest. It's a rather inoffensive looking Weedil. Ash, of course, wants to capture it. Since Pikachu is too tired to fight, he sends Pidgeotto out to battle.

Determined to get away from all insects, Misty sets off on her own. She soon runs into a boy decked out in Samurai garb. He wants to know if she's the new Pokémon trainer from Pallet Town. (Later, we find out that he's already battled and lost to the three other Pallet Town trainers, including Gary Oak.) Misty realizes that he must be looking for Ash.

Pidgeotto is still fighting the Weedle when the Samurai challenges Ash to a Pokémon Battle. This interruption allows the Weedil to escape and contact a swarm of very bad-tempered Beedrills. Soon, our heroes and the Samurai our fleeing from the poisonous stingers of these terrible flying insects. In the melee, one Beedrill snatches Ash's Metapod. How is the young trainer going to free his trapped Pokémon without getting stung?

#5 SHOWDOWN IN PEWTER CITY

On the road to Pewter City, Ash and Misty meet a strange old man named Flint selling rocks. He offers to take them to the Pewter City Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy gladly greets the travelers. Although she may appear to be the exact same Nurse Joy they met in Viridian City, she's actually that Nurse Joy's older sister. (As Ash crosses the countryside, he'll encounter a succession of different, though physically identical Nurse Joys and Officer Jennys.) She takes all of Ash's Pokémon to be revitalized.

Misty notices a poster on the wall. It invites all eligible trainers to compete in the Pokémon League Regional Championships. To qualify, a trainer has to earn seven badges by beating seven different Pokémon Gym Leaders. Once his Pokémon are revitalized, Ash heads for the local Gym with the intent of winning his first badge.

Gym Leader Brock is the master of Rock Pokémon. His snake-like Onix easily out-muscles Pikachu and forces Ash to concede defeat. Dejected, the young trainer wanders out into the woods until he once again meets Flint. The old man is sorry to hear of Ash's loss then offers to help 'super-charge' Pikachu. Setting out to complete this plan, Flint tells Ash about Brock's secret past. The more the young trainer listens, the more he wonders whether he has the heart to defeat Brock.

#6 CLEFAIRY AND THE MOON STONE

Legend has it that in prehistoric times a giant meteor crashed into Mount Moon. Fragments of that huge stone created the Moon Stones, small rocks that can increase the power of certain types of Pokémon. To take advantage of this power, many unscrupulous people, like Jesse and James, for example, have searched the entire mountain for the large, hidden core of the meteor.

Ash, Misty, and Brock only know about a few of the mysteries that surround Mount Moon. Arriving at its base, though, the meet someone who knows a whole lot more. Seymour the Scientist believes that the ancient meteor was actually a spaceship in which the Pokémon came to Earth. He hopes that by finding it, he can help them return to their homeworld.

The caves of Mount Moon are populated with a very rare type of Pokémon known as the Clefairy. Ash tries to capture one, but Seymour stops him. He believes that since the Clefairy exist no where else on the Earth that they should not be removed from their natural habitat. They soon discover that these unique Pokémon play a key role in the mystery of the Moon Stone.

#7 THE WATER FLOWERS OF CERULEAN CITY

For some strange reason, Misty doesn't want to go to Cerulean City. She tells Ash and Brock that all the Pokémon there are monsters and that Viridian City is much nicer. Ash won't listen, because he wants to earn his second Pokémon Badge by challenging the Cerulean City Gym Leader. When he and Brock finally arrive at their destination, Misty is nowhere to be seen.

The Cerulean City Gym is unlike any that Ash has ever encountered. The fighting area is really an Olympic-sized swimming pool surrounded by a huge arena. On the day that Ash visits, the stands are filled with fans watching the Cerulean City Synchronized Sisters, three beautiful girls performing water ballet.

After the show, Ash wanders around the gym, gazing at the endless aquariums filled with fish and water Pokémon. Eventually, he runs into the three performers and learns that they really are the Gym Leaders. He challenges them, but because none of their Pokémon are fit to fight (and they're more interested in performing) they give Ash a Water Badge. The young trainer hesitates. He'd much rather earn the badge. He gets his wish though, when the fourth Cerulean City Sister, Misty, challenges him to a Pokémon battle.

#8 THE PATH TO THE POKÉMON LEAGUE

With two Pokémon badges and 10 victories under his belt, Ash is feeling pretty good about himself. The latest victim of his fighting prowess, a boy with a Rattata, tells Ash that he should take on A.J., a local, undefeated trainer. Ash is confident that A.J. will be his 11th victim.

It soon becomes clear that that victory might not come so easily. Outside of A.J.'s gym is a sign proclaiming that trainer's 98 victories and zero defeats. Ash and his friends are impressed (and a little intimidated) by the gym which Ash built. Still, Ash challenges the rough-natured A.J. and the two battle. A.J.'s Sandshrew easily outpowers Ash's Pidgeotto and Butterfree. Reluctantly, Ash is forced to admit defeat.

Now that the match is over, Ash visits the training area of the gym and is appalled by what he finds. A.J. is using a whip and a special harness to make his Sandshrew exercise in a pool. Usually, Earth Pokémon are weakened by water. When Ash accuses A.J. of being cruel to his Pokémon, the other trainer claims that his techniques have made Sandshrew stronger than normal. Ash disagrees and decides to rescue the wild Pokémon from their heartless trainer.

#9 THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

To break up an argument between Ash and Misty, Brock offers to prepare some tea and crepes for the travelers. First, though, he needs some firewood. While Misty volunteers to stay and keep Brock company, Ash agrees to search the woods for something to burn. A short time later, he comes upon a group of youths quizzing a boy about Pokémon. While answering questions, the boy jogs on an automatic treadmill. For every wrong answer he gives, the testers increase the speed of the treadmill.

Ash steps forward and tries to stop what's going on. Surprisingly, he learns that the boy, who's name is Joe, is a willing participant in this cruel ritual. All of the children are members of the Pokémon Technical Institute, an exclusive school for rich young trainers. Joe says that the other students were just helping him study. Ash thinks that this type of hazing is wrong and vows to stop it.

Following Joe to the school, Ash, Misty, and Brock meet Giselle, the top student in the Beginners Class. She's conceited, arrogant, and beautiful. This last quality especially interests Ash and Brock. Misty, on the other hand, can't tolerate Giselle's insults. She challenges the raven-haired girl to a duel.

Nearby, the two Pokémon Tech drop-outs with the lowest exam scores, Jesse and James, prepare to seek revenge on their alma mater.

#10 BULBASAUR AND THE HIDDEN VILLAGE

Having wandered away from the main path, Ash and his friends are hopelessly lost in the woods. Things begin to look up, though, when Misty and Ash spy a wild Oddish. They attempt to capture the creature, but, from out of nowhere, a Bulbasaur appears to protect it. This strong Pokémon, which is a cross between a flower bulb and a lizard, easily defeats the surprised trainers.

Nearby, Team Rocket is searching the woods for a hidden village that's supposed to contain many defenseless Pokémon. They anticipate an easy haul if they can just find the village.

Continuing on through the woods, Ash, Misty, and Brock use a rope-bridge to cross a deep gorge. Someone has cut part-way through one of the ropes so that the bridge breaks under our heroes' feet. Ash and Misty are able to climb out, but Brock falls into the raging river below. Eventually, he is saved by Melanie, a kind girl who takes care of injured and abandoned Pokémon at her cabin in the woods. This is the village of supposedly defenseless Pokémon that Team Rocket has been looking for. Actually, Melanie's charges are very well protected by a very large and loyal Bulbasaur

. #11 CHARMANDER -- THE STRAY POKÉMON

Still trying to find their way to Vermilion City, Ash and his companions discover a stray Charmander sitting on a rock. At first, Ash tries to catch it, but the weak Pokémon bats his Pokéball away. Pikachu talks to the Charmander and learns that he is waiting for someone. The young trainers decide to continue on to the next Pokémon Center, trusting that whomever the Charmander is waiting for will soon arrive.

That evening at the Pokémon Center, our heroes meet Damian, the Charmander's selfish trainer. He admits that he left the Pokémon in the woods because it was too weak to use in battle. Damian's attitude angers Ash, Misty, and Brock. Outside, a storm is raging. If Charmander's tail flame gets blown out, he could die. Ash and Brock rescue the injured Pokémon from the storm and bring him back to the Pokémon Center.

In the morning, Charmander returns to the rock to wait for Damian. Ash and his friends want the Pokémon to come with them, but know that he is still loyal to his trainer.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket waits in ambush with an Anti-Pikachu Rubber Balloon Bazooka!

#12 HERE COMES THE SQUIRTLE SQUAD

Ash is feeling pretty good about himself. Having already captured a Bulbasaur and Charmander, his future as a Pokémon trainer seems bright. His positive attitude quickly vanishes, though, when he, Misty, and Brock, accidentally fall into a deep pit that someone has dug in the middle of the road. The culprits are the Squirtle Squad, a gang of Pokémon delinquents who take pleasure in playing pranks on humans. According to Officer Jenny, these turtles turned bad because they were abandoned by their trainers. Now they roam the countryside causing mischief.

Even Team Rocket isn't immune from the Squirtle Squad's pranks. Jesse and James are ambushed and have their picnic basket snatched by the joking turtles. Worse yet, Meowth makes friends with the Squirtle squad and convinces them to help Team Rocket capture Pikachu. It doesn't take much effort for these water Pokémon to short-circuit Pikachu and tie-up Ash, Misty, and Brock.

#13 MYSTERY AT THE LIGHTHOUSE

Ash is surprised when the new Pokémon he catches, a Krabby, suddenly vanishes. Brock explains that although trainers may catch 20 or more Pokémon, they can only carry six at a time. The extras are automatically transported to the Pokémon Center where a trainer originally got his or her Pokédex. Wanting to make sure his Krabby is okay, Ash convinces his friends to visit a nearby lighthouse so that he can use the telephone to contact Prof. Oak.

Coincidentally, the lighthouse is operated by Bill, the foremost Pokémon researcher in the land. He spends his time studying rare Pokémon. When Ash, Misty, and Brock first meet him, he's wearing a costume of the extinct Kabuto. This allows Bill to "get inside the head" of the Pokémon that lived millions of year ago.

Ash calls Prof. Oak and learns that his Krabby is fine. He encourages Ash and his friends to learn all they can from Bill about rare Pokémon.

Bill gladly tells our heroes about his favorite Pokémon, especially a giant one which he has only seen once. At the time, he was lucky to record the creature's haunting song. He plays the sad, wailing melody for Ash and his friends, then broadcasts it from the lighthouse's outdoor speakers. Bill hopes that this sound will attract the rarest of all Pokémon for his guests.

#14 ELECTRIC SHOCK SHOWDOWN

After two weeks of wandering, Ash, Pikachu, Misty, and Brock finally arrive in Vermilion City. They are all tired and hungry, but Pikachu is in the worst shape. The young trainers take the exhausted Pokémon to the local Pokémon Center for some quick healing. While there, they encounter 15 other trainers who are nursing their own battered Pokémon. They are all recovering from their battles with the local Pokémon Gym Leader, Lt. Surge. Ash is determined earn a Thunder Badge by beating Surge. Once Pikachu is well, the pair visit the Gym and challenge the blond-haired Surge to a Pokémon battle. At this point, Surge reveals his champion Pokémon: Raichu. This large, electric-powered monster is an evolved form of a Pikachu. Surge boasts that all young trainers who want to be Pokémon Masters should evolve their Pokémon as soon as they get them. He and Ash pit their electric creatures against each other. Unfortunately, Raichu's Thundershock proves too powerful for Pikachu and Ash is forced to concede the contest to Surge.

Back at the hospital, the nurse offers Ash a Thunder Rock, which will allow Pikachu to evolve into a Raichu. Misty reminds her companion that once a Pokémon evolves, it can never change back. Uncertain about what to do, but wanting still to beat Surge, Ash allows Pikachu to choose whether or not he wants to evolve.

#15 BATTLE ABOARD THE ST. ANNE

After defeating Lt. Surge, Ash and friends wander down to the docks of Vermilion City. Two very odd girls bounce up and offer them free tickets to a special luxury cruise for Pokémon Trainers. Happy for a chance to unwind, the trio board the St. Anne as it prepares to depart.

Of course, the two girls turn out to be Jesse and James in disguise. The Trainer-only cruise is really an insidious plot by the mysterious leader of Team Rocket to steal all of the passengers' Pokémon. Jesse, James, and Meowth sneak on the ship and wait for the right moment to strike.

Ash discovers that the Grand Ballroom is packed with fellow Trainers. He challenges a man in a top hat to a Pokémon battle. Using his Butterfree, Ash nearly defeats the man's Raticate. The man is so impressed with Ash's Butterfree that he offers to trade his Raticate for it. After some thought, Ash agrees to the trade. Soon, though, he has second thoughts. Before he has a chance to get Butterfree back, Team Rocket attacks. Not only do the trapped Trainers have to deal with an onslaught of thieves, they must face a storm that threatens to swamp the ship.

#16 POKÉMON SHIPWRECK

The sunken St. Anne teeters up-side down on the edge of an underwater chasm. Trapped inside, Ash, Misty, and Brock must find a way to escape before all the air disappears from the capsized cruise ship. Meanwhile, the three members of Team Rocket fail to swim their way out of the doomed vessel and have to be saved by Misty's Goldeen. At first, the rescued bad guys want to battle their rescuers, but both groups realize that they must co-operate if they hope to escape the St. Anne alive. Should they try to swim out the submerged deck or climb up to the hull ála The Poseidon Adventure? Fortunately, Misty's water Pokémon come to the rescue as does James' formerly useless Magikarp. Just when our heroes (and villains) think that they're free, Magikarp evolves into a deadly Gyarados. Have they beaten the sea only to be destroyed by an enraged sea monster?

#17 ISLAND OF THE GIANT POKÉMON

Caught in a whirlwind created by Gyarados, Ash, Misty, and Brock are tossed onto the beach of a deserted island. When they wake-up, Ash discovers that not only is Pikachu missing but he only has two Pokéballs left. Gyarados' cyclone also deposited Jesse and James on the opposite side of the island. They can't find Meowth or any of their Pokéballs either. They do locate a telephone booth. But, since they don't have any change, they can't call anyone for help.

While wandering through the woods, Pikachu comes across his master's three missing Pokéballs. Freeing Charmander, Squirtle, and Bublasaur, Pikachu leads them on a quest to rejoin Ash and his friends. Suddenly, they're ambushed by Team Rocket's missing Pokémon. To everyone's surprise, Ekans and Koffing refuse follow Meowth's orders to attack Pikachu and his friends. After all, Meowth is not their master. Instead, they tie-up the bossy cat and join Pikachu's caravan.

As night falls, all of the lost Pokémon and humans discover that the island is full of dangerous creatures, including *gasp* a giant Pikachu.

#19 TENTACOOL & TENTACRUEL

Ash and his traveling companions wait at the docks of Puerta Vista for a ship to ferry them to the mainland. Much to Misty's delight, she sees a cute Horsea bobbing in the water. She tries to talk to it, but the seahorse-shaped Pokémon seems distressed. Spitting out ink, the creature tries to draw a picture that the humans can understand. Suddenly, there is a great explosion in the harbor and a large ship begins to sink. Misty sends her Goldeen, Starmie, and Staryu out to rescue the crew. When everyone is safe, the ship's grateful owner Nastina offers to show Misty, Ash, and Brock the new resort hotel she is building on the coral reef in the harbor. She complains loudly about how a huge colony of jellyfish Pokémon known as Tentacool are disrupting her construction crews. She even offers Ash and friends $1,000,000 to get rid of the nasty creatures. Because Misty loves all water Pokémon, she vehemently refuses to help. She believes that Nastina's resort is the real cause of all the trouble. Of course, Team Rocket has no such objections. They plan to exterminate the Tentacool with a barrel of Super Secret Stun Sauce. Instead of killing them, though, the toxic material forces one Tentacool to evolve into a giant Tentacruel which threatens to destroy all of Puerta Vista.

#20 THE GHOST OF MAIDEN'S PEAK

Returning to the mainland, Ash and his companions arrive at the port of Maiden's Peak just in time for the end of summer festival. Brock is depressed. With summer over, he has missed his chance to meet a beautiful, bikini-clad girl and fall in love. His spirits rise, though, when he sees a raven-haired beauty standing on the pier. James is also bewitched by the mysterious woman. Hardly able to control themselves, they try to talk to her, but she vanishes.

On the outskirts of town, Ash, Misty, and Brock attend a special ceremony at the Shrine of the Maiden. The festival honors the memory of a beautiful woman whose true love died in a faraway war. Each day, she would stand on the cliffs, look out to sea, and wait for his return. She waited so long that she eventually turned into a stone statue. The shrine's holy man reveals a painting of the long-dead woman. It looks exactly like the woman that Brock and James saw on the pier!

While Ash and Misty return to town, Brock stays behind to gaze longingly at the statue. Night soon falls and a ghostly shape arises from the cold stone.

In the morning, Ash and Misty rush to the shrine. They find Brock and James babbling incoherently. With Jesse's help, the two trainers must break the unearthly spell that controls their lovesick companions.

#21 BYE BYE BUTTERFREE

Following a path that will lead them to Saffron City, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu arrive at a range of cliffs that overlook the sea. Every year, swarms of Butterfree gather at this spot to pick their mates before crossing the ocean to lay their eggs. Ash and his friends join other Pokémon trainers by renting a hot air balloon and floating among the frolicking insects. Happily, Ash releases his own Butterfree into the crowded skies. Despite encouragement from Ash and dating tips from Brock, the little Pokémon can't get the attention of any of the female Butterfree. Just when he is about to give up, he spies a lovely (for insects, that is) pink Butterfree. She too rejects Butterfree's advances. It's at this sad moment that Team Rocket makes its entrance. The villainous trio easily scoops up scores of defenseless Butterfree with a large net suspended from a helicopter. Luckily, Ash's Butterfree avoids capture. His valiant efforts to free his comrades catches the notice of the pink Butterfree. Although Ash is happy that Butterfree has found his mate, he's sadden by the thought of losing a Pokémon that he has raised from just a baby Caterpie.

#22 ABRA AND THE PSYCHIC SHOWDOWN

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu become lost in a dark forest on their way to Saffron City. They encounter a young girl wearing a pretty dress and bouncing a ball. When Ash tries to get directions from her, she laughs and runs away. Chasing her, Ash nearly falls to his death when he blunders off the edge of a cliff. Only by releasing Bulbasaur from his Pokéball at the last second does the trainer provide a means of escape.

Although the girl is gone, Ash and his friends can now see their destination from this high vantage point. Before long, they make their way down to the city and are greeted by two jubilant women in grass skirts. They declare that Ash is the millionth visitor to Saffron City and that he has won many prizes. In reality, the girls are Jesse and James. Soon, Team Rocket has trapped the trio and snatched Pikachu. Just when things seem most dire, the little girl reappears. She obviously possesses unique Psychic abilities which she uses to rescue Pikachu and free Ash and his friends.

Later, Ash visits the Saffron City Pokémon Gym. He hopes to win a Marsh Badge by beating the gym leader Sabrina in a Pokémon battle. It's not too surprising that Sabrina turns out to be the strange little girl. She agrees to fight Ash, provided he agrees to one condition: If Ash loses, he and his friends must become toys in her toy chest for all eternity.

#23 THE TOWER OF TERROR

Following the instructions of the mysterious bearded man who rescued them from Sabrina's clutches, Ash, Misty, and Brock travel to Lavender City. Ash still wants to win a Marsh Badge from Sabrina. He now knows that only a Ghost Pokémon can defeat Sabrina's powerful Psychic Pokémon. The Pokémon Tower in Lavender City is haunted with Ghost Pokémon. Ash plans to capture one of them to use against Sabrina.

The three ghosts that "live" in the Tower -- a Gastly, a Haunter, and a Gengar -- aren't really bad. They just enjoy scaring people. They perform their tricks on Team Rocket and even chase Ash, Misty, and Brock away. But, Ash is determined to capture one of the ghosts. He and Pikachu re-enter the Tower. How successful are they? Let's just say that the pair soon find themselves as ectoplasmic members of the spirit world.

#24 HAUNTER VS. KADABRA

Haunter has decided to join Ash in his battle against Sabrina. This would be a good thing, if Haunter were dependable. When Ash finally returns to the Saffron City Gym, Haunter disappears. Ash is forced to retreat, but in the process, Sabrina turns Brock and Misty into dolls.

Ash and his Pokémon are once again saved by the bearded man, who now reveals himself as Sabrina's father. He tells the story of how his daughter changed from a sweet little girl to an emotionless gym leader with advanced psychic powers. Ash knows that to rescue his friends he'll need to face Sabrina again. He doesn't dare do that until he can track down Haunter. Although he does eventually find the mischievous Pokémon, Ash isn't sure that he can depend on Haunter to stick around once the battle starts. The young trainer may have to rely on his own determination and a certain feisty electric mouse to defeat Sabrina.

#25 PRIMEAPE GOES BANANAS

Prof. Oak receives an early morning call from Ash. He hasn't heard from the young trainer since he captured Krabby. Ash brags that he's gotten four badges, but Prof. Oak informs him that his grandson Gary already has 5 badges. Worse yet, Gary has captured 30 Pokémon compared to Ash's seven. Dejected, Ash vows to capture just as many if not more Pokémon.

On the road to Celadon City, Ash, Misty, and Brock encounter a Mankey. This half-monkey/half-pig is a scrappy little fighter who playfully snatches Ash's Official Pokémon League cap. When Ash tries to get it back, the Mankey gets angry and starts thrashing our heroes.

With Ash too weak from fighting the Mankey, Team Rocket seize the opportunity to grab Pikachu. In the process, Jesse and James inadvertently anger the Mankey themselves. Full of rage, it evolves into a larger, meaner Primeape. Now everybody has to fight or run from this crazed creature.

#26 POKÉMON SCENT-SATION!

The first thing that Ash, Misty, and Brock notice when they arrive in Celadon City is the wonderful fragrance that fills the air. Brock and Misty track it down to a shop that sells a special perfume manufactured at the local Pokémon Gym. Ash discourages Misty from wasting her money on the scent. This angers the employees and owner of the shop. They're objections don't bother Ash. All he's concerned about is challenging the Gym Leader. When Ash reaches the Celadon Pokémon Gym, though, his views about the city's special perfume are already known. The angry gym staff refuses to allow Ash in to challenge their leader.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket attempts to sneak into the gym through an open window. They plan to steal the secret perfume formula from the gym's safe. Unfortunately, they stumble upon a Gloom, a plant Pokémon that emits an awful odor when threatened. Coughing and hacking, Team Rocket is quickly captured and thrown out. Seeing that Ash has also been tossed out by the gym staff, Jesse proposes a plan that involves a dress, a blonde wig, and a girl named "Ash-ley."

#27 HYPNO'S NAPTIME

While visiting a large city, Ash, Misty, and Brock encounter a disturbing mystery. Many local children have suddenly gone missing. Since none of the children knew each other or seemed to have any apparent connection, the local police are unable to link the disappearances. The only possible clue is that all of the children vanished three days before.

Wanting to help, our heroes visit the local Pokémon Center to ask the trainers if they know anything about the missing children. Instead of finding answers, our heroes encounter a new mystery. All of the Center's Pokémon are suffering from a strange condition that saps their strength. According to Nurse Joy, the illness began the same day that all of the children vanished.

Officer Jenny uses a sleep wave detector to track down the cause of the illness. It leads Ash and friends to the headquarters of the Pokémon Lovers Club, a group rich adults who collect odd and rare Pokémon. Their prize possession is a recently evolved Hypno, which uses its hypnotic powers to relieve the club members' stress. Since a Hypno is only supposed to use its power on other Pokémon, Brock suspects that the Club's misuse of that power is causing the Pokémon at the Center to be sick. It may also be the cause of the missing children. To test this theory, Misty volunteers to be hypnotized by the Hypno.

#28 POKÉMON FASHION FLASH

Brock's dream has always been to become a Pokémon breeder. For this reason, he takes Misty and Ash to the fashion district of the city to visit Susie's Pokémon Salon. As the best and most popular breeder in the world, Susie has a lot to teach Brock and his friends. Brock is so smitten with her abilities, in fact, that he wants to become her pupil. Although Susie is impressed with the way Brock takes care of Pokémon, she declines his offer. Instead, she wants to concentrate on promoting her philosophy of finding the simple, inner beauty of Pokémon. This has become very difficult because Team Rocket has opened up a Pokémon fashion salon nearby. Jesse and James are promoting their own philosophy of exterior beauty by giving outlandish makeovers and weird fashions to unsuspecting trainers and their Pokémon.

Misty doesn't see anything wrong with trying to look nice, so she takes fashion emergency Psyduck to Salon Rocket for a beauty treatment. It's not long before Ash and Brock join her for a "sludge makeover."

#29 THE PUNCHY POKÉMON

Ash hasn't caught a new Pokémon in a while, so when he meets a Hitmonchan jogging along the road he sends Pikachu to battle it. Since Hitmonchan is a well-trained fighter, Pikachu gets clobbered. Anthony, the Hitmonchan's trainer, apologizes that his Pokémon was so rough on the electric mouse. He has been preparing Hitmonchan for the P-1 Grand Prix, a tournament for fighting Pokémon. He encourages Ash to enter another Pokémon in the tournament.

Once Anthony leaves, his daughter Rebecca approaches Ash. She tells him that ever since Anthony began training Hitmonchan, he has neglected his family. She begs him to enter the Grand Prix and beat her father so that he will come home again. Ash and Brock decide to enter their own fighting Pokémon, Primeape and Geodude, in the tournament.

The Grand Prix prize money attracts the attention of Team Rocket. Jesse and James plan to cheat to win. But first, there is the minor detail of acquiring a fighting Pokémon from an unsuspecting trainer.

#30 SPARKS FLY FOR MAGNEMITE

Too many factories and too few people have transformed Gringey City into a lonely, polluted town. Ash, Brock, and Misty find it difficult to breath the foul-smelling air. The city's dirtiness affects even Pikachu, who collapses in Ash's arms. At first, Ash thinks that his Pokémon is in terrible shape, but Nurse Joy guesses that Pikachu is suffering from a cold caused by something in the air. Pikachu's cheeks are radiating sparks of electricity. This condition seems to attract a mysterious floating Pokémon that hides in the shadows. Meanwhile, a group of gloppy Grimers clog the sea water intake of the Gringey City electrical plant, causing a city-wide black-out. The power outage threatens the lives of all of the Pokémon Center's sick patients. To avert a disaster, Ash, Misty, and Brock rush to the electrical plant to take on the Grimers and their leader, a big, poisonous Muk. Making matters worse is the appearance of Team Rocket who hope to use the confusion caused by the black-out to cover their capture of the sick Pikachu.

#31 DIG THOSE DIGLETT!

The mountains near the city of Fuchsia are filled with activity. Dump trucks and heavy machinery crowd the roads as they make their way to the Great Giva Dam construction site. Heading for the Fuchsia Pokémon Gym, Ash and his friends become lost in the mountains. After following the sound of blasting to the dam, the trio witness a terrible accident caused by a large group of underground Pokémon called Digletts.

The noise from the accident attracts the attention of Team Rocket, who are picnicking nearby. They sneak up and eavesdrop on Ash, Misty, and Brock's conversation with the construction site foreman. He complains that the Diglett are disrupting work with their constant digging. He informs the travelers that he has already posted a reward for any Pokémon trainer who can get rid of the pesky creatures. Ash and his companions as well as Team Rocket decide to try their hand at solving the problem. To make matters worse, busloads of other trainers arrive with their hopes set on snagging the reward. Chief among them are Gary Oak and his cheering fan club. Dejected, Ash prepares to solve the mystery of the Diglett, while enduring the taunts and jeers of his hometown arch-nemesis.

#32 THE NINJA POKÉ-SHOWDOWN

Misty is sick of Psyduck. Every time she looks at the big bird with the perpetual headache, her own head begins to hurt. She's so desperate to get rid of Psyduck that she offers to trade it to Brock for his Vulpix. He refuses. After all, whenever Brock grooms his beautiful Pokémon, he remembers its original, equally beautiful trainer, Susie.

Fickle as ever, Brock soon redirects his affections once he, Misty, and Ash arrive at the Fuchsia Gym. While Ash is intent on winning his sixth Pokémon badge, Brock gazes dreamily on Aya, the sister of Gym Leader Koga.

The Fuchsia Gym is well known for its odd and unique Pokémon, such as the insect-like Venonat and the self-exploding Voltorbs. These attract the attention of Team Rocket, who launch an all out assault on the Gym. Even the team of Koga, Aya, Misty, and Ash may not be enough to repel Jesse and James' recently evolved Arbok and Weezing. Hard as it is to believe, it may be Misty's annoying Psyduck who holds the key to victory.

#33 THE FLAME POKÉMON -ATHON!

The adventures of Ash, Misty and Brock take a Western turn when they meet Lara Laramie of the Big 'P' Pokémon Ranch. The large nature preserve that her family owns spreads out across miles of rolling prairie. Visiting trainers can help take care of the wandering herds of wild Pokémon such as the bull-like Tauros and the triple-headed Dodrio. From the saddle of her flame-haired Ponyta, Lara invites the three travelers to stay for the upcoming Pokémon race. Each year, the Laramie family sponsors the event which is open to the fastest Pokémon and their trainers. Besides receiving prize money, the winner becomes an honorary member of the Laramie clan.

That night, Ash and friends join Lara at a big, pre-race party. They don't stay long, though, because Dario, a shady trainer, tells Lara that something has been spooking the Tauros herd. When she goes to investigate, a dark figure frightens Ponyta. Lara is thrown from the saddle and breaks her arm. Realizing that the injury will prevent her from participating in the race, Lara asks Ash to ride in the race for her. Reluctantly, Ash accepts, completely unaware that Dario and Team Rocket are in cahoots to win the race.

#34 THE KANGASKHAN KID

From the Big 'P' Ranch, Ash and his companions travel to the Safari Zone, an area where rare and wild Pokémon run free. One of strangest species is the endangered Kangaskhan which, like kangaroos, carry their young about in a pouch. What makes the Safari Zone Kangaskhan herd so unique is that it's watched over by a wild boy called Tomo. No one knows where the eight-year old came from or why he protects the herd from poachers.

While Officer Jenny is taking Ash, Misty, and Brock on a tour of the Safari Zone, they Watch Tomo's battle with the irascible Team Rocket. After the boy has won, the travelers try to communicate with him, but he runs away. Even when Brock treats an injured baby Kangaskhan, Tomo fails to see the humans as anything but a threat.

A man and a woman descend from the sky aboard a helicopter. They tell the travelers about the son that they lost in the woods three years ago. Can Ash, Misty, and Brock convince the wild boy that he's not a Kangaskhan and that these two strangers are his real parents?

#36 THE BRIDGE BIKE GANG

Ash and friends are faced with a dilemma. They want to get to Sunnytown as quickly as possible, but the new bridge across the bay is only open to people on bicycles. Misty reminds Ash that this would not have been a problem if he hadn't destroyed her bike when they first met. Unable to reach a solution, they visit the local Pokémon Center to see if they can borrow three bikes. Nurse Joy is glad to help, especially since she needs someone to deliver medicine to the Pokémon Center in Sunnytown. She loans the travelers three bikes so that they can make the trip across the bridge and help a sick Pokémon.

Coincidentally, Sunnytown is where Jesse and James began their criminal careers as members of a teen-age bicycle gang. As 'Jes' and 'Jim,' they were twin terrors on six wheels. (James' bike had training wheels.) Approaching their old stomping grounds, they wonder if the old gang is still around.

It is and it's causing lots of problems for Ash, Misty, and Brock on the bridge. Gangleaders Tyra and Chopper challenge our heroes to a Pokémon duel. Ash knows that if loses, he'll never be able to get the medicine to Sunnytown on time.

#37 DITTO'S MYSTERIOUS MANSION

To escape a heavy downpour, our heroes enter an old mansion in the woods. The building turns out to be a rundown theater with some very strange residents. The first of which is a Pikachu with an unusually flat face. Brock guesses that it's a new type of Pikachu and Ash tries to capture it. The flat-faced Pikachu turns out to be different type of Pokémon altogether. It's a Ditto, which can assume the appearance of any other Pokémon. Duplica, the Ditto's trainer, is also something of a chameleon. With clever costuming and make-up, she can imitate anyone she meets. Her dream is to combine her own performing skills with Ditto's gift for transformation to become a stage star. Unfortunately, Ditto's transformations aren't 100 per cent accurate. Until Ditto learns to perfect his power, Duplica's dreams of stardom will forever remain unfulfilled.

Spying on Ash, Misty, and Brock, Team Rocket learn of Ditto's unique ability for imitation. They can think of many nefarious uses for such a Pokémon. Strangely enough, Team Rocket may hold the key to unlocking Ditto's true potential.

#39 PIKACHU'S GOODBYE

Weary from their adventures, Ash and friends take a much needed break deep in the forest. Surprisingly, Pikachu discovers a whole herd of wild Pikachus. At first, the electric mice are wary of the new arrival, but eventually they welcome him into their fold. Brock and Misty think that it's great that Pikachu has found a group of his own kind to spend his time with. Ash, on the other hand, is depressed. He begins to suspect that Pikachu might be happier living here than traveling with him.

When all of the Pikachus are nabbed by Team Rocket, Ash, Misty and Brock must save them. For Ash, the rescue is bittersweet because he knows that he may still have to say goodbye to Pikachu in the end.

#40 THE BATTLING EEVEE BROTHERS

Wandering ahead of his human companions, Pikachu discovers an abandoned Eevee chained to a tree. Ash and Misty want to keep the cute little Pokémon, but Brock notices that it's wearing a collar with a tag on it. They decide to return Eevee to the Stone Town address printed on the tag.

Located at the base of Evolution Mountain, Stone Town is famous for its Evolution Stones which can help young Pokémon evolve into more powerful Pokémon. Coincidentally, Eevee is called the Evolution Pokémon, because it can transform into either a Flareon, Vaporeon, or Jolteon when exposed to certain types of Evolution Stones. Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive at the correct address and discover a huge garden party taking place. The party-goers are all using Evolution Stones to change their Pokémon into larger, more powerful creatures. Recognizing the small Pokémon that our heroes are carrying, the three 'Eevee Brothers' step forward to claim it. They identify it as their younger sibling Mikey's Pokémon and wonder how it got lost. (Actually, Mikey chained up the Eevee because he didn't want it to evolve at the party.)

Hungry and full of mischief, Jesse, James, and Meowth swoop down on the party. Not only do they snatch all of the Pokémon and Evolution Stones, but the make off with all of the refreshments as well. Once they finish filling their bellies, they're sure to use the powerful stones to evolve the poor Eevee into its most evil incarnation.

#41 WAKE UP SNORLAX!

The three travelers meet an old hippie playing a Pokéflute on the side of the road. Once his song is over, he asks them for some food. Sadly, Ash, Misty, and Brock have nothing to give the man and continue on their way. The encounter reminds them just how hungry they are and how quickly they need to get to their next destination. When they arrive in the next town, though, they discover that there is no food to be had. The bakery is without bread and the market shelves are completely empty.

Luckily, an elderly gentleman invites the trio to his home for lunch. While they gorge themselves on food, he explains that the river which normally runs through the town has mysteriously dried up. Without water, the local farmers can't grow enough food to feed the townspeople. To payback the gentleman's generosity, Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to follow the riverbed to its source and investigate the cause of the catastrophe.

After walking miles and climbing through endless brambles, Ash and friends find a huge Snorlax blocking the natural spring which is the river's source. They are now faced with the daunting task of either waking up or moving the giant, slumbering Pokémon.

#42 SHOWDOWN AT DARK CITY

When Ash and his companions enter Dark City, they discover a ghost town of rundown buildings and empty streets. Worse than that, though, is the reception they receive from the frightened townspeople. With rocks and sticks, a group of boys assault the travellers. Only an electric jolt from Pikachu saves our heroes from a good head bashing.

The owner of a nearby restaurant apologizes for the attack and explains that everyone in Dark City hates Pokémon trainers. The reason is terribly simple: both the Yas and Kas Gyms are fighting for the honor of becoming the only officially sanctioned Pokémon Gym in Dark City. To settle their dispute, they've been hiring wandering Pokémon trainers and engaging in all-out streetwarfare.

Ash, Misty, and Brock are understandably appalled by all of this needless violence. Assuming the amusing aliases of Tom Ato, Ann Chovy, and Caesar Salad, they set out to diffuse the tense situation with lots of determination and a few barrels of ketchup.

#43 THE MARCH OF THE EXEGGUTOR SQUAD

Our heroes arrive in a new town on the same day as the carnival. While Brock and Ash head off to chase girls and eat lots of junk food, Misty and Pikachu take a tour of the rides and shows. Behind one of the tents, Misty notices a magician and his assistant arguing. The young woman is so fed up with Melvin the Magician's lousy act that she quits. Misty approaches the sad little man and offers to help him with his act, at least for one day.

Dressed in a beautiful costume, Misty quickly learns why Melvin's assistant left him. He's an awful magician. Most of his act involves shooting flames from a magic wand and juggling egg-shaped Pokémon called Exeggcutes. Ash and Brock are part of the meager audience that witnesses Melvin's poorly executed tricks. The only thing that they find interesting is Melvin's extremely strange Pokémon.

The Exeggcutes find Ash just as interesting and use their special power to hypnotize him. In a trance, Ash is forced to take Melvin and his Pokémon into the woods to hunt for the even stranger Exeggutors. The magician plans to use their super-hypnotic powers to force the entire town to become his willing audience.

#44 THE PROBLEM WITH PARAS

Although beautiful, Moss Green Village is too small to have a Pokémon Gym. At first, the three travelers want to pass by the town, but Brock notices that his potion and antidote bag is empty. He convinces Ash and Misty to visit the village to stock up on supplies.

Team Rocket creeps along in the bushes nearby, waiting for a chance to pounce on our heroes. Actually, only Jesse and James are creeping. Meowth is too sick to move. Since the two humans could care less about their Pokémon companion's condition, they decide to abandon Meowth in the woods. Cassandra, a local girl, overhears their discussion and is outraged. She uses some herbs that she's gathered to treat Meowth. Through his delirium, the little cat Pokémon instantly falls in love with his "nice nurse."

Ash, Misty, and Brock enter the local herb shop that's run by Cassandra's grandmother. When the helpful girl returns, she meets the trio and challenges Ash to a Pokémon Battle. Ash is only too happy to comply and sends Pikachu out to fight Cassandra's plant/insect Pokémon, Paras.

Cassandra hopes that Paras will become an experienced fighter and eventually evolve into a Parasect. When that happens, she will use his mushrooms to make potions that will help all Pokémon. Unfortunately, Paras is a coward. Not only is he scared of Pikachu, but Ash's Charmeleon thoroughly thrashes him. With Paras fleeing into the woods, Cassandra's chances of creating a magic potion appear very slim indeed.

#45 THE SONG OF JIGGLYPUFF

After crossing the desert, Ash, Misty, and Brock arrive in Neon Town, a large city filled with bright lights and busy people. The residents are so busy, in fact, that they rarely sleep. This probably explains why everyone that the travelers meet is either on edge or angry. Even the local Officer Jenny displays a quick-temper when she talks to the trio. Following a restless night in the local Pokémon Center, Ash and his friends thankfully escape to the peaceful forest on the outskirts of town. They soon encounter a Jigglypuff, a cute balloon Pokémon.

According to Brock, Jigglypuffs are well-known for their beautiful singing. For some reason, this particular Pokémon doesn't seem to know how to sing. With some encouragement from Misty, the Jigglypuff does eventually start to sing. It's strange, hypnotic melody lulls the young trainers and even Pikachu to sleep. Angry over this obvious rudeness, Jigglypuff swipes a marker from Ash's backpack and draws silly faces on his dozing audience.

Nearby, Team Rocket has been watching the performance. Before succumbing to Jigglypuff's spell, they decide to steal the little Pokémon and use its strange power on the residents of Neon Town. With everyone asleep, even these bumbling thieves will have no trouble looting the city.

#46 ATTACK OF THE PREHISTORIC POKÉMON

Approaching Grandpa Canyon, Ash, Misty, and Brock encounter a large group of people carrying picks and shovels. They're all part of the Great Pokémon Fossil Rush. Trainers from all around the world are trying to dig up the remains of extinct Pokémon. Unfortunately, one of the first fossil hunters that our heroes meet is Gary Oak. He plans to find more fossils than anyone else, including Ash.

Before Ash can rise to the challenge, though, he and his friends must first deal with an emergency created by Team Rocket. Hoping to uncover a large cache of fossils, Jesse and James plant a load of dynamite at the base of the canyon. While Ash rushes to prevent the explosion, Misty and Brock warn the other trainers to run for safety.

Although Ash valiantly tries to extinguish the fuse in time, he ultimately fails. The ensuing explosion sends him, Pikachu, and Team Rocket tumbling into a vast underground cavern which is inhabited with Omanytes, Omastars, Kabutos, and Kabutops.

At first, Ash is excited at finding what were previously considered extinct Pokémon. His excitement is short-lived though, as he soon learns that these prehistoric creatures angry at being disturbed. Worse yet, there's a greater, even more dangerous threat lurking nearby -- a giant Aerodactyl!!!

#47 A CHANSEY OPERATION

It's "Pokémon Meets ER" when Ash and Pikachu visit a human hospital.

Somehow, the little electric mouse gets a large apple stuck in his throat. Since there are no Pokémon Centers around, Ash opts to take the poor, suffering creature to the local emergency room. The only doctor there refuses to help but changes his mind when he sees Misty. (He's just as girl crazy as Brock!) Even so, the doctor still gets thundershocked for his trouble.

With Pikachu feeling better, the young travelers prepare to leave, but are stopped by an emergency call from Nurse Joy. A truck carrying Pokémon has crashed on the highway. There are too many injured Pokémon for her to handle alone. Dr. Proctor agrees to help out and convinces Ash and his friends to pitch in. Soon, sirens are blaring and the first casualties begin to arrive. Can our heroes save all the injured Pokémon, especially once Dr. Proctor accidentally tranquilizes himself and falls asleep?

#48 HOLY MATRIMONY!

In their travels, Ash, Misty, and Brock come across a poster with the picture of a missing boy who looks remarkably like a young James. A butler overhears their conversation and hustles the travelers into the back of a huge stretch limo. Once the car has disappeared, Team Rocket emerges from a nearby bush. Jesse asks her partner if he is the boy in the poster. James claims to have amnesia. All that he can remember is that after he dropped out of Pokémon Tech, he joined a bicycle gang. Not quite believing him, Jesse and Meowth follow the limo.

The butler takes Ash, Misty, and Brock to a huge estate where even the pet Growlithe has his own mansion. He tells how Master James broke his parents hearts by running away from home instead of marrying his fiancee. Now that they have passed away, the butler has to find James so that he can have his inheritence. Upon hearing this, the greedy Jesse and Meowth muscle James into the mansion.

Once James appears, his parents reveal that they aren't really dead. Instead, they tell him that he must give up his wandering ways and marry his fiancee Jessebelle.

#49 SO NEAR, YET SO FARFETCH'D

Ash, Misty, and Brock have decided to take a break from their travels and are camping out in pleasant meadow. The one thing intruding on their mini-vacation is Psyduck, who, as always, is complaining of a headache. Ash and Brock go to fetch some water, leaving Misty and her annoying Pokémon alone. Suddenly, a strange bird marches into the clearing. It's an extremely rare Farfetch'd! Misty chases it into the woods. Before she can grab it, she accidentally collides with a boy, who apologizes and hands her the backpack she dropped. Returning to the meadow without Farfetch'd, Misty discovers that the boy has switched backpacks and stolen all of her Pokémon.

The boy and his pet Farfetch'd add Misty's Pokéballs to the ones they had already stolen from other Pokémon trainers. Living alone in the woods, the boy only knows how to steal Pokémon. He is certain that he and Farfetch'd are too weak to compete against other trainers. When Team Rocket stumbles into his camp, he easily tricks them out of their Pokémon.

In the meantime, Ash and friends have contacted the police and are searching for the Pokémon thief. Will Misty be able to retrieve her lost Pokémon, especially when her best hope lies in the hands of Psyduck?

#50 WHO GETS TO KEEP TOGEPI?

Arriving at a small town called Pokémon Center, Ash contacts Prof. Oak. He learns that the last Pokémon he sent, Muk, is doing fine. Prof. Oak also updates Ash's Pokédex so that he will have all of the current information to help him on his way to becoming a Pokémon Master.

Ash, Misty, and Brock are now faced with a couple of decisions. First, they must decide where to go to find more Pokémon. Cinnabar Island seems like a good choice. Second, they have to determine what to do with the large egg they have been carrying. The problem is that they don't know what type of Pokémon egg it is or which of the trio should keep it. Brock seems to have the best claim on the egg, since he has been taking care of it. On the other hand, Ash thinks that he should keep the egg since he was the one who found it.

To make things more complicated, Team Rocket steals the egg from our heroes and Meowth becomes its surrogate mother. He pampers the egg by giving baths and sleeping with it. When the egg finally hatches to reveal a rare Togepi, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Meowth must battle to determine who is its rightful mother is.

#51 BULBASAUR'S MYSTERIOUS GARDEN

This story starts off with a bang as Ash's Bulbasaur defeats another trainer's Rhyhorn in a close contest. Initially, Ash is pleased, but then realizes that Bulbasaur is acting strangely. Taking the injured creature to the nearest Pokémon Center, Ash learns that Bulbasaur is not hurt, but is actually preparing to evolve into an Ivysaur.

All the plants growing around the Pokémon Center are filled with new blossoms and sparkling pollen floats through the air. Nurse Joy says that this occurs once a year when the Bulbasaurs gather together in their secret garden to evolve. Ash is understandably relieved when he hears the good news about his Bulbasaur and is even a little excited about the transformation.

On the other hand, the little half-toad/half-plant is not at all happy about evolving. When Ash is asleep, he sneaks out of the Pokémon Center and runs off into the woods. Pikachu follows Bulbasaur. But, before he convince the runaway Pokémon to return, a group of evolving Bulbasaurs capture Ash's Bulbasaur and take him to their secret garden.

#54 THE CASE OF THE K-9 CAPER!

Hiking through the forest, Ash is determined to reach the Cinnabar Island Gym where he'll try to win his seventh Pokémon Badge. A thief appears out of nowhere. (You can tell its a thief because he has a bag of swag thrown over his shoulder.) Ash sends Pikachu after the villain, but soon a large Growlithe comes forward to fight the crook. In fact, a lot of Growlithes suddenly surround Ash, Misty, and Brock. The travelers have inadvertently stumbled on the Police Pokémon Training Center.

Officer Jenny offers the travelers some food and a place to rest. Ash is fascinated by the training center and asks if any type of Pokémon can be trained there. Officer Jenny explains that canine-Pokémon like Growlithe are ideal for policework. Since Ash wants to be the World's Best Pokémon Trainer and he wants Pikachu to be the best Pokémon possible, he asks Jenny if Pikachu can join the police training program. She invites the pair to attend the next morning's training session. Ash and Pikachu will soon discover if they are made of the 'right stuff.'

#55 POKÉMON PAPARAZZI

The wonderful weather allows the travelers some time to rest and the opportunity for Brock to demonstrate his culinary talents. As Ash, Misty, and Pikachu satisfy their hunger on some tasty rice balls, a mysterious figure lurks nearby. Between bites, Ash spies the glint of glass in the tall grass. Thinking it's the sight of a rifle, he leaps up, pushes Misty and Pikachu to the ground, and knocks Brock's rice pot into the river.

The hidden assassin turns out to be Todd, the self-proclaimed #1 Pokémon Photo Master. All he was really trying to do was photograph Pikachu in his natural environment. Though less than thrilled by Todd's efforts, Ash invites the young paparazzi to take Pikachu's picture. The sound of the camera shutter terrifies the little Pokémon and Todd receives an electric hotfoot. Despite this momentary setback, he vows to photograph Pikachu.

Unbeknownst to our heroes, Jesse and James have hired Todd to capture Pikachu. Can the young shutterbug help it if he thought he was only agreeing to capture Pikachu on film?

#56 THE ULTIMATE TEST

Still intent on photographing Pikachu in his natural environment, Todd has joined Ash, Misty, and Brock on their travels. The story begins as the quartet stops for a picnic lunch. Misty mentions that Ash hasn't earned a Pokémon Badge in a while and wonders if the young trainer will ever get all eight of the badges needed to qualify for the Pokémon League. Ash starts yelling and bragging about what a great Pokémon fighter his is. At this point, Misty reminds Ash that most of his victories have been against Team Rocket, who are about the worst fighters in the world.

To calm things down, Todd suggests that Ash take the Pokémon League Emissions Exam. If he passes the test, Ash will receive a special badge that immediately qualifies him for the League without having to get all eight of the Gym Leader Badges.

Full of enthusiasm, Ash joins the other hopeful applicants at the Pokémon League Emissions Center. His fellow exam takers include the Fuchsia City Nurse Joy as well as Jesse and James in disguise. Surrendering all of Pokémon to the head tester, Ash prepares to demonstrate his fighting skills and general Pokémon knowledge in the hopes of becoming a Pokémon Master.

#57 THE BREEDING CENTER SECRET

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Todd are enjoying themselves in a new city. While Todd takes pictures of Misty’s Togepi, Ash and Brock watch the Pokémon Weather Report in a TV shop window. Suddenly, a commercial comes on advertising the town’s newest Pokémon Breeding Center. According to Misty, a breeding center is like a spa for Pokémon. Ash is especially impressed by the commercial’s boast that visiting Pokémon receive so much love and care that they can evolve in just a few short days.

The young travelers make their way across town and discover the sidewalk in front of the new breeding center is packed with trainers and their Pokémon. Eventually, they all get inside and Misty opts to check Psyduck in for some rest and relaxation. She secretly hopes that the mini-vacation will improve the big bird’s depressing demeanor. Back on the streets, Ash and his friends decide to get some lunch. A nearby restaurant is offering a free meal to anyone who can produce the cook’s favorite type of Pokémon. Quickly, Ash, Misty, and Brock empty their Pokéballs, but none of their Pokémon is the right one. The cook finally shows them a photo of his favorite Pokémon. It’s Psyduck!

Misty is so hungry -- especially for dessert -- that she forces her friends to return to the breeding center to retrieve Psyduck. Finding a ‘Closed’ sign on the front door, they sneak in the back and make a terrible discovery about what the breeding center is really doing with all of the Pokémon it has collected.

#58 PRINCESS VS. PRINCESS

It's Princess Day in the land of Pokémon. That's the day when all the girls and women get to do whatever they want and all the males have to do whatever the females tell them to do. (James of Team Rocket wonders how this is different from the rest of the year, but nobody gives him an answer.)

Misty loves the holiday. She gets to buy all of the toys and clothing she wants because of the Princess Day sales. Ash and Brock hate the holiday because they have to pay for everything, including all of the ice cream and cake that Misty orders for lunch. In keeping with the festive occasion, Brock offers to be the Prince for the restaurant's pretty waitress. Sadly, she declines and he consoles himself by devouring all of Misty's desserts.

Jesse is also enjoying the holiday. Using the Team Rocket credit card, she buys a completely new wardrobe as well as gifts for her boss. A tasty selection of smoked sausages should placate the mysterious leader of Team Rocket. That is, until a wild Lickitung snares them with his prehensile tongue. After slobbering all over Jessie's new clothes, the weird Pokémon fends off an attack from Jessie's Arbok. Enraged, Jessie tosses a Pokéball at the Lickitung and captures it.

Later, our three heroes and Team Rocket head to the same department store to take advantage of a big holiday sale. In the middle of the clothing section, Misty and Jessie grab for the same item. After a short argument, they agree to battle for the garment. They are interrupted by an announcement blaring from the store's loudspeaker. There is going to be a Queen of the Princess Festival Contest with the winner receiving a set of Pokémon Princess Dolls.

Both Misty and Jessie secretly wish to win the dolls. As the youngest of four sisters, Misty never got a Pokémon doll of her own to play with. Similarly, when Jessie was a little girl, she was the only child she knew of who didn't own a Pokémon doll. Eagerly, the two females agree to settle their argument by entering the contest and winning the dolls.

#59 THE PURR-FECT HERO

When Ash, Misty, and Brock see a string of multi-colored Pokémon banners flying above a house, they instantly know that it's time for another holiday. Kids Day is the only time of the year when children can skip school, eat all the sweets they want, and, of course, play with their Pokémon all day long. Ash is determined to press on to Cinnabar Island so that he can earn his seventh badge, but Misty convinces him to have some fun and enjoy the holiday.

Nearing a new town, the travelers are accosted by a pre-school teacher who thinks that they are the three trainers who are supposed to share their Pokémon with her class. Brock wants to impress the pretty woman, so he volunteers to entertain the children. Ash and Misty gladly help out.

In a matter of minutes, the trio is overrun with admiring tots who love to poke and prod Pikachu. Ash rescues the yellow mouse before it gets hurt, but not before Pikachu gives him a little electric shock. Brock, Misty, and Ash soon release all of their Pokémon and the schoolyard is filled with happy children. That is, except for a little boy named Timmy. He isn't having any fun because he doesn't see his favorite Pokémon: Meowth. He then tells the young trainers about how he was once rescued from a dangerous Beedrill by a Meowth.

Ash admits that the only Meowth he knows of is a member of Team Rocket and he's certain that that Meowth wouldn't save anyone. Brock agrees and guesses that the Meowth that saved Timmy must be a wild one.

Suddenly, a van pulls up. It's a traveling magic show! Actually, it's Jessie, James, and Meowth in disguise. Their plan to capture Pikachu backfires and they end up kidnapping Timmy instead.

#61 VOLCANIC PANIC

In the previous episode, the three young trainers visited Cinnabar Island so that Ash could earn his seventh Pokémon badge. Unfortunately, he had to face the odd Cinnabar Gym Leader Blane and his powerful array of fire Pokémon. The adventure ended with the seemingly invulnerable Magmar pushing poor Pikachu to the edge of an active volcano.

Reluctantly, Ash recalls Pikachu and concedes defeat. Blane commends him for protecting his Pokémon, but reminds the 10-year-old boy that he failed to earn a Volcano Badge. As a parting gesture, he offers the travelers the use of his hot springs, so that they can recover from the battle. Despite the loss, Ash is in a good mood. He takes Blane up on his offer and soon treats Pikachu to a nice hot bubble bath.

In a different part of the public baths, Jessie and James are dunking themselves in hot water. They're trying to get used to the high temperature so there will be no problems when they take on Magmar. Since Blane's fire Pokémon easily defeated Pikachu, Team Rocket figures that they must capture Magmar for their boss. Sneaking into the gym, Jessie and James try to freeze Magmar with some ice missiles. When this attack fails, they start firing the missiles at the volcano itself, hoping that this will sap Magmar's strength. Instead, the barrage triggers an eruption that threatens to destroy the entire island. Only the efforts of Magmar and Ash's reluctant fire Pokémon Charizard can help save everyone.

Ash visited Cinnabar Island with the intention of battling for a Pokémon badge. Now he must fight for his life and the lives of his friends and Pokémon.

#62 BEACH BLANK-OUT BLASTOISE

Although our heroes spend the day at the beach, this adventure is not a fun-filled "Frankie and Annette Meet Pikachu" affair. Nope. They must rescue the king of the turtle Pokémon, while avoiding the hypnotic spell of Jigglypuff.

Let's start at the beginning. Ash, Misty, and Brock race to catch the last ferry off of Cinnabar Island. A rare and raving Wartortle emerges from the ocean and collides with the trio. He frantically relates his story to Ash's Squirtle, who then dons his Squirtle Squad Sunglasses. Before Ash and his friends have time to think, they're following the two Pokémon to a remote island that turns out to be the breeding ground for Squirtles, Wartortles, and Blastoise. The beach is littered with dozing Pokémon. At the edge of the jungle is a huge turtle shell-it's Blastoise, the king of turtle Pokémon. Examining its shell, Ash immediately falls asleep. Nothing can wake him up, except for a little thundershock from Pikachu. Upon closer examination, Brock discovers that Jigglypuff is trapped inside of Blastoise's water cannon. It's this mischievous Pokémon's song that has been putting everybody to sleep.

From their Gyrados-shaped submarine, Team Rocket has been watching events unfold. They harpoon the Blastoise and disappear. Before long, they succumb to Jigglypuff's singing. Can Ash's Squirtle and all of his turtle friends rescue their king before Team Rocket's sub sinks to the bottom of the sea?

#63 THE MISTY MERMAID

Now that the travelers have reached Viridian City, Ash can earn his last Pokémon badge. As they take a rest from their long journey, Misty discovers that her Horsea is not feeling well. Brock thinks that the little guy isn’t getting enough exercise. He needs to swim in the ocean or a large aquarium. Misty realizes that the Cerulean Gym where her sisters perform isn’t far away and it has a huge pool. To help Horsea, the three trainers agree to take a side trip to Cerulean City.

Arriving at the Cerulean Gym, Ash and Brock notice a poster announcing the upcoming performance of a beautiful underwater ballerina. Ash thinks that there’s something familiar about the ballerina, but Brock is only interested in how lovely she is. Misty, on the other hand, is mysteriously embarrassed. The answer to this, we soon discover, is that the beautiful ballerina is actually Misty herself.

Misty’s sisters greet the travelers with a desperate explanation. They’ve performed their underwater show so many times that no one in Cerulean City wants to see them again. Lily, Daisy, and Violet came up with the idea to put on the underwater ballet The Magical Mermaid with baby sister as the star. After some initial misgivings, Misty says that she’ll be in the show. Her sisters are relieved because the first performance is the next day.

Long lines form outside of the gym hours before the premiere of the ballet. Among the interested crowd are the members of Team Rocket. James is excited about the show—he studied modern dance, after all. But, Jesse and Meowth have other plans. The performance will present a perfect opportunity to capture lots of water Pokémon. Tying up Lily and Violet, Jesse and James don their costumes and enter the ballet as villains. Ash and Brock are the only ones in the arena who recognize the pair as real villains who are plotting to steal the show.

#64 CLEFAIRY TALES

It’s Pokémon Meets The X-Files as Ash and his friends meet a flying saucer full of mischievous aliens.

Jigglypuff is walking through the woods, putting Pokémon to sleep with his song when he spies a weird spaceship falling to earth. He rushes to the crash site and watches a large group of Clefairy disembark from the broken spacecraft.

On their way to Viridian City, Ash, Misty, and Brock stop for a little refreshment. In the middle of enjoying their ice cream cones, they’re interrupted by the appearance of a Clefairy. Misty wants to capture it and soon they’re all running down the street after it. But, the cute little Pokémon succeeds in evading our heroes and they walk back to the ice cream stand where they find that somebody has stolen their backpacks. Brock suggests that they should report the theft to Officer Jenny. Misty and Ash agree.

At the police station, the three young trainers learn that they aren’t the only ones who are victims of thievery. Many of the town’s residents report that they’re missing some important items, from a cook losing his pot to a famous baseball player missing his favorite bat.

Dr. Oswald believes that he knows the cause of the crime wave: aliens. He believes that extra-terrestrials are stealing these items for their own nefarious purpose. Ash and his friends don’t quite believe the wacky scientist but agree to help him track down the aliens. A few minutes later, they find out that Oswald was right when a flying saucer drops down to the sidewalk and two aliens abduct Pikachu.

Of course, the aliens from the saucer are really Jessie and James in disguise and their scheme predictably unravels. Just as Ash rescues Pikachu from Team Rocket’s fake ship, the real aliens, the Clefairy, kidnap the electric mouse. It’s a race against time for Ash to rescue his Pokémon before the Clefairy off into space.

#65 THE BATTLE OF THE BADGE

Finally, Ash arrives in Viridian City where he hopes to win an earth badge. Once he wins this, his eighth badge, he’ll be able to join the Pokémon League.

But, guess who’s in Viridian City as well?

As obnoxious as ever, Gary Oak lords it over Ash that he has already gotten TEN badges. With his ever-present cheerleaders in tow, Gary enters the Viridian City Gym ahead of Ash and challenges the gym leader.

At first, Gary does well. His Nidoking and Arcanine quickly beat the gym leader’s Golem and Kingler. But the oddly familiar gym leader has a big surprise up his sleeve. He sends Mewtwo into the arena. Gary’s Pokémon are no match for this cybernetic creature. He’s easily defeated and knocked unconscious.

While brooding over the latest turn of events, Ash accidentally tosses Togepi in the air. A Fearow snatches the little Pokémon in its beak and our heroes give chase. Eventually, the Fearow drops Togepi into the hands of Jessie and James. Pleased to have ‘captured’ such a rare Pokémon, they rush to give it to their boss who is none other than the Viridian Gym Leader.

Not too surprisingly, the head of Team Rocket is angry that the only rare Pokémon that Jessie and James have ever caught is the very weak Togepi. He vents his anger at them, but is interrupted by some urgent business. Before he leaves, he gives Jessie and James his Pokéballs and orders them to protect the gym. Foolishly, they think that this is a promotion and eagerly plot how to defeat all the young trainers who will soon be challenging them.

(The urgent business that requires the leader of Team Rocket’ s attention involves a special assignment for Mewtwo. Could this have anything to do with the upcoming movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back?)

#66 IT’S MR. MIME TIME

#67 SHOWDOWN AT THE PO-KE-CORRAL

#68 THE EVOLUTION SOLUTION>

Ash learns a lesson about responsibility when his mother organizes a day trip to Seafoam Island. While Misty and Brock plan to go windsurfing, Ash must stay in Pallet Town and train for the Pokémon League.

Bummer.

Visiting the Pokémon Center, Ash discovers a frustrated Prof. Oak trying to solve a mystery about Pokémon evolution. According to his research, a Slowpoke can only evolve into a Slowbro if a Shelldar attaches to its tail. Prof. Oak cannot find an explanation for this extremely silly process. He then realizes that Prof. Westwood, the Pokémon Researcher who created the Pokédex, may have the answer. Much to Ash’s delight, Prof. Westwood lives on Seafoam Island. Now he has a perfect reason to go to the beach.

Ash finds Misty and Brock enjoying the perfectly wonderful day on Seafoam’s beautiful beach. Nearby, Jessie and James aren’t so lucky. Their boss is still angry over the destruction of Team Rocket HQ. As punishment, he orders them to dig for clams in the sand. Although Jessie and James hate the job, they do uncover a large Shelldar, which Jessie is able to capture. Their boss then gives them a new task to complete: go to Prof. Westwood’s lab and steal whatever they can.

Just like Prof. Oak, Prof. Westwood is obsessed with the problem of the Slowbro’s evolution. He has looked through all the books in his giant library and still hasn’t found an answer. With Ash and friends in tow, Prof. Westwood follows his pet Slowbro down to the beach to watch the strange creature fish. (It does this by sticking its tail in the water.) Misty notices that Slowbro has the same empty expression on its face as Psyduck. It turns that both Pokémon are extremely stupid.

Speaking of stupid, Team Rocket parasail into Prof. Westwood’s lab. When they realize that the only Pokémon around is Slowbro, they plot to use their Shelldar to force the poor Pokémon to evolve into a rare Slowpoke.

#69 THE PI-KAHUNA

So that Ash will be in good shape for his Pokémon training, he jogs down the beach road. Suddenly, a thick cloud of automobile exhaust sends him staggering into the path of an oncoming car. Fortunately, the driver is able to avoid Ash, but the near accident causes a huge traffic jam.

The beach road is filled with cars because today is the day that the Humonga Dunga is going to hit. This giant wave only appears once every 20 years. Hoping to catch the Humonga Dunga, surfers from all around the area flock to this beach on this day. Officer Jenny tells Ash, Misty, and Brock about the legendary surfer Jan, who road the giant wave 40 years ago and planted a flag on top of a tall rock in the middle of the harbor. Since then, surfers have been trying to recreate that daring feat.

After hearing the story, Ash dashes into the surf with his board. He wants to be a great surfer like Jan. At first, Ash does well, but soon a big wave makes him wipe out. He hurts his foot and begins to sink. A new Pikachu is sitting on top of the rocks and sees that Ash is in trouble. Calling his owner, he dives into the water and helps save Ash from drowning.

When Ash awakens, he finds himself surrounded by Misty, Brock, and an old surfer named Victor. He tells the young trainers about his experiences as a surfer and about meeting Jan many years ago. The last time that the Humonga Dunga hit, he tried and failed to plant his flag on top of the rock in the harbor. Afterwards, when he was feeling awful about not doing as well as his idol Jan, he spied a little Pikachu surfing on a piece of wood. He saved that Pikachu and named him ‘Puka.’ Soon, the two were inseparable. They practiced surfing all of the time. Since Puka had the uncanny ability to sense when a big wave was coming, he proved very useful to Victor.

From the periscope of their Gyrados-shaped submarine, Team Rocket sees the two Pikachus playing on the shore. They kidnap them and head out to sea. Ash and his friends race to find their stolen friends before the Humonga Dunga makes its 20-year visit.

#70 MAKE ROOM FOR GLOOM

The start of the Pokémon League is less than two months away and Ash is doing everything to get himself into top shape. At least, that’s what he does most days. Today he’s sound asleep while Brock is making breakfast and his mother is working in the yard. After Mr. Mime and Pikachu rudely awaken Ash, the young trainer quickly ducks out of the house. He convinces Misty and Brock that they should spend the day in the mountains rather than do yard work for his mother.

Soon, the trio comes upon Xanadu Nursery, a huge domed greenhouse in the middle of the forest. Through the glass windows, Brock spies a beautiful young woman. He also sees a peculiar flower Pokémon called a Gloom. The young woman’s name is Florinda and the Gloom is her only Pokémon. She’s very said because her family has entrusted the nursery to her, but she considers herself a failure as a manager and a trainer. Florinda explains that she’s tried everything to make Gloom evolve into a Vileplume. She even bought a magic leaf stone, but that turned out to be a fake. From Florinda’s description, the three trainers recognize the sellers of the counterfeit stone as none other than Team Rocket.

Despite this, Ash and his friends enjoy the lovely plants inside the nursery. No one enjoys it more than Ash’s Bulbasaur. The little creature runs from plant to plant, sniffing flower buds. Eventually, he comes upon some Pokénip that makes him goofy. efore Florinda can stop him, though, he turns to smell a plot of stun stem. Instantly, Bulbasaur passes out. Luckily for Bulbasaur, Florinda’s Gloom produces a nectar that is an antidote for the stun stem effect. The green Pokémon recovers in time to capture Jessie and James who are stealing all of the nursery’s valuable plants.

This time, Team Rocket is ready for the worst. While Jessie and James are tied up, Meowth makes a bomb out of ground stun stems. He tosses it at our heroes and they all collapse on the floor. Their only chance for rescue comes from Gloom and its insecure trainer Florinda.

#71 LIGHTS, CAMERA, QUACK-TION

Still training for the Pokémon League, Ash leads his friend to a nice campground beside a beautiful lake. (As always, Jigglypuff is following close behind.) Although the travelers like camping, one thing that Misty and Ash don’t like is Brock’s chili. It’s too spicy. They’re arguing about this when an attractive young trainer approaches. Her name is Katrina and she doesn’t waste any time challenging Ash to a battle. Out of the Pokéball that she flings at the ten-year-old boy pops a Raichu. Ash responds with Pikachu. It looks like it’s going to be a tough scrape, until Team Rocket makes an untimely entrance.

Jessie and James capture Pikachu with a butterfly net. Well, they think they’ve caught Pikachu. Actually they’ve caught a very angry Raichu who uses his thunderbolt to shock them.

Suddenly, a short man yells “Cut” and our heroes discover that the whole encounter with Katrina and Team Rocket was being filmed. The man turns out to be none other than Golden Growlithe Award-winning director Cleevon Speilbunk. (He directed Brock’s favorite film, I Saw What You Ate Last Tuesday.) Now he’s working on a new project. It’s a feature-length film with a cast full of Pokémon. The director introduces the young trainers to his star, a Wigglytuff.

Meowth laughs at the little guy, but Wigglytuff slaps him silly. This sort of attitude explains why Wigglytuff’s first co-star disappeared. As Brock says, “You get slapped by critics and co-stars.”

Speilbunk explains that he’s auditioning Pokémon for his film and our heroes eagerly bring out their best and most talented specimens. Even Jessie and James have stars in their eyes as they send Arbok, Weezing, and Meowth to the try-outs. In the end, though, it’s Misty’s Psyduck that wins the part. He gets to play opposite Wigglytuff in Speilbunk’s Pokémon version of Romeo and Juliet

Heaven help us.

#72 GO WEST YOUNG MEOWTH

WARNING: In this episode, all members of Team Rocket sing and dance, including Meowth! To quote Ash: “That was scary.”

Ash, Brock, and Pikachu are exercising on the porch when a special delivery letter arrives. It’s an invitation from Cleevon Speilbunk to attend the Hollywood premiere of Pokémon in Love, the new movie starring Misty’s Psyduck. Everyone has visions of how wonderful Hollywood is going to be.

Team Rocket overhears the news and makes its own plans about traveling west. One member of the team, though, has unpleasant memories about the movie capital. Meowth remembers how, as a young kitten, he lived on the street, struggling to get enough to eat. That was until he saw a movie that bragged about all the ice cream and fried chicken in Hollywood. Meowth was on the next train to California.

In the present, Ash, his mother, Misty, and Brock arrive in Hollywood and discover that it’s not all like they imagined. Speilbunk’s letter directs them to the bad part of town, where they find a rundown theater. Is where the big premiere is going to be?

Jessie and James also arrive in town. They make plans about crashing the premiere and then wonder where Meowth has gone.

Team Rocket’s walking/talking Pokémon wanders through the seedy side of Hollywood thinking about the past. When he first came to town, his life was difficult, until he joined a gang of street meowths led by a Persian. As a gang member, he was able to steal all the food he wanted, but that wasn’t enough to make him happy. One day, he saw a rich, female Meowth in front of a jewelry story. He immediately fell in love. But Meowsy would have nothing to do with him. He was poor and dirty, unlike the humans who took care of her.

With love in his heart, Meowth set out to make himself more human. He eavesdropped on a dance class and taught himself how to walk. Listening to another class, he learned to read and speak like a human being. Even though he changed himself, Meowsy still would have nothing to do with him. At this point, Meowth joined Team Rocket so that he could steal enough money to make himself rich. Now that he’s back in Hollywood, he wants to find Meowsy to show her how successful he is.

Eventually, Meowth does find his long-lost love. She’s joined that street gang that Meowth used to belong to. Now, he must fight the gang’s leader to win Meowsy back.

Meanwhile, back at the theater, Ash and his friends enjoy the premiere.

#73 THE MASTER OF THE ONIXPECTED

In just three weeks, Ash will be trying out for the Pokémon League. He spends every day getting ready. Sometimes, though, it looks like he’s goofing off. That’s what Misty thinks when she finds Ash and Brock watching a video. Calling them “couch potatoes,” she turns off the TV. But, Brock and Ash object. The video that they were watching featured Bruno, one of the Elite Four Pokémon Trainers. They were hoping that by watching him, they could learn his Pokémon secrets. Actually, they wish that they could meet Bruno in person, but don’t know how to contact him. Ash’s mother does! She heard that Bruno is staying near Mt. Hideaway. Brock imagines that Bruno is hiding there to keep his Pokémon secrets secret. The three young trainers decide to hike there to track down Bruno.

Although the journey to Mt. Hideaway is relatively short, it’s over some rough terrain. Ash and Brock are exhausted, but Misty feels fine. They stop to rest at an old woman’s house. She gives them meatballs to snack on and tells them that the Mt. Hideaway area is famous for its Onix. For some reason, the rich soil near the mountain makes these rock Pokémon grow larger than normal. The old woman also tells them that someone has been stealing her meatballs. The culprits soon make their presence known. It’s Team Rocket dressed as old men.

Once Ash, Misty, and Brock resume their journey, they soon run across a huge Onix track--with a huge Onix in it! They race to get away from the stampeding creature, until Bruno saves them at the last moment. Ash and Brock beg Bruno to teach them all of the Pokémon secrets he knows. He agrees, as long as they agree to do everything he tells them to do.

Soon, Ash and Brock are fetching water, splitting logs, and cleaning twigs. They think that these jobs are supposed to teach them lessons, but they’re really just making it easier for Bruno to prepare his dinner. He admits that he has no Pokémon secrets. The only reason he’s there is to capture the largest Onix. Doing that would prove that he’s the strongest Pokémon trainer around. Team Rocket overhears this and plots to capture the largest Onix first. That way, people would realize that they’re stronger than Bruno and they could easily get into the Pokémon League. Soon, Jessie and James set off with bazooka in hand. They may think they’re hunting for Onix, but they’re really hunting for trouble.

#74 THE ANCIENT PUZZLE OF POKEMOPOLIS

Ash is finally buckling down and training. He and Brock are using Pikachu and Vulpix to battle in the woods. At the most crucial moment, though, Jigglypuff bounces right into the middle of the struggle. Pikachu and Vulpix are forced to divert their electric and fire blasts to avoid vaporizing Jigglypuff. The blasts pound the side of a hill, clearing away huge chunks of earth and revealing an ancient temple.

The explosion draws the attention of Dr. Eve and her team of archeologists. They’ve been searching for the ancient city of Pokemopolis. Vulpix and Pikachu’s blast seems to have uncovered the fabled city that was mysteriously destroyed and buried long ago.

In the rubble, Brock discovers a weird artifact. Eve rudely snatches it up. She’s certain that this will prove her theorizes about the lost city. When Brock and his friends try to get the credit that they deserve, Eve shows them other artifacts that she has found. Chief among these is a stone tablet that explains how the city was destroyed. Apparently, two forces, one light and one dark, fought at the city. This struggle crushed the homes of the Pokémon-loving people of Pokemopolis.

Nearby, Team Rocket observes the archeological dig. Convinced that a treasure is buried under the city, they wait until dark and send Arbok burrowing into the ruins. He emerges with a dark object that suddenly sucks them all inside and begins floating in the air. Actually, a giant, invisible Gengar is carrying the object. His loud footsteps awaken Eve and the trainers. Unbeknownst to them, Gengar’s presence is also causing the artifact that Brock found to glow.

Now visible, the Gengar tramps off through the woods in the direction of Pallet Town. Ash and Brock give chase. They try to stop the rampaging creature with their Pokémon. But, once anything touches the creature, it’s sucked into the dark object. Angered, the Gengar returns to the archeological dig. To everyone’s surprise, the artifact that Brock found transforms into a giant Alakazam. Now, the two creatures, one dark and one light, begin to fight.

Eve realizes that this is the same thing that happened to ancient Pokemopolis. If they can’t find a way to stop these terrible Pokémon, they’ll all be destroyed. Ash, Misty, and Brock’s only solution is Jigglypuff. Perhaps this creature’s song will be enough to subdue the Gengar and Alakazam.

#75 BAD TO THE BONE

Before he heads off to join the Pokémon League, Ash visits Prof. Oak for some last minute advice. Pallet Town’s chief Pokémon expert has only one thing to tell the 10-year-old boy: if he’s not ready for the Pokémon League now, he might as well quit and go home. In other words, Ash is finally ready to head to the Indigo Plateau and join the league.

The next day, Prof Oak, Ash’s mom, and Mr. Mime say good-bye to the young trainers. Ash is sad to leave home but excited about finally getting a chance to join the Pokémon League.

Taking a shortcut through a field, the three travelers encounter Otoshi, a young trainer who challenges Ash to a battle. The loser has to hand over all his Pokémon badges to the winner. At first, Ash doesn’t want to risk losing his badges, but Otoshi shames him into the battle. They fight and, in the end, Ash wins. When he asks Otoshi to hand over his badges, the young trainer breaks down and cries. His eight badges were stolen by Team Rocket. Even though it may mean that he will be late for the start of the Pokémon League trials, Ash vows to track down Team Rocket and retrieve Otoshi’s badges.

Two members of Team Rocket, James and Meowth, are having their own trouble finding Otoshi’s badges. Apparently, Jessie stole the badges and ran off, hoping to enter the Pokémon League with them. With the help of his Pidgeotto, Ash pops Team Rocket’s balloon and interrogates Meowth and James. When it looks like Otoshi won’t be getting his badges back, his prize Pokémon, Marowak, abandons him in frustration. Ash and his friends must locate Jessie, win back Otoshi’s badges, reunite the trainer with his Marowak, and get to the Indigo Plateau before it’s too late.

#76 ALL FIRED UP!

Ash is excited about nearing the Indigo Plateau where he’ll finally get to compete for the Pokémon League. Eventually, the young trainer and his companions notice that the sides of the road are lined with people waving flags with Pokéballs on them. At first, Ash thinks that the flag waving is for him, but it’s actually for a runner carrying the torch.

According to legend, the flame of a Moltres lit the torch, which is used as a symbol for the Pokémon League and all of the trainers coming to the competition. Ash figures that since he’s a trainer, he can carry the flame. When he asks the runner if he can have the torch, Officer Jenny says he can’t. But another voice says he can.

From a van traveling behind the runner emerges an old man with a thick beard. This is Charlie Goodshow. He’s in charge of the Official Pokémon League Competition Flame. He admires Ash’s tenacity and spunk and says that the young trainer has every right to be a torchbearer. Soon, Ash is running down the road raising the torch high above his head.

Jessie and James swoop down from the clouds in its Meowth-shaped balloon. They set off an explosion that causes a crevasse to open in the road that swallows up Charlie’s van. Ash stands on the edge watching when Meowth hits him in the face and steals the torch. As the bad guys escape, Ash feels awful about losing the torch.

Charlie, though, tells him not to worry. He has another Moltres flame hidden in a lamp. He lights another torch and each of our heroes takes turns carrying it to the huge stadium on the Indigo Plateau.

In the Pokémon League Village, Ash runs into Gary Oak. His old enemy taunts him, saying that because he didn’t battle as many trainers as he did, Ash will obviously fail. That night, his mind filled with doubts and fears about the coming competition, Ash has difficulty sleeping.

The next day is filled with pomp and circumstance as the competition begins. Ash and Gary join the ranks of the other trainers who march into the stadium. In the stands, Misty and Brock watch the elaborate proceedings.

As a new torchbearer climbs the stairs leading to the large central flame, two mysterious figures stop her. It’s Team Rocket! They swipe the torch and the central flame with their giant robotic machine. They’re about to ruin the ceremony, but Ash and Pikachu rush to the rescue. Unfortunately, Jessie and James tip the flame over and dose our heroes in fire. Will Ash and his electric mouse be cooked alive?

#77 ROUND ONE—BEGIN!

In Pallet Town, Professor Oak is joined in front of the TV set by Ash’s mother, Mr. Mime, and a group of neighbors. They’re all there to watch the Pokémon League Competition and to cheer on Ash.

Recovering from the excitement of the opening ceremonies—most of which was caused by Team Rocket’s intrusion, Ash checks in at the Pokémon Village desk. It’s there that he learns where his first battle will take place and whom he will be fighting. (It’s also the place where Brock can leer at the lovely receptionist).

Dressed as television reporters, Jessie and James wander about the Pokémon Village. They hope to steal Pokémon from the trainers that they interview. Unfortunately, no one seems to have any rare or interesting Pokémon. But one trainer does draw their attention. Wearing outlandish clothing and performing Pokémon magic tricks for passersby, Mandy is not your typical trainer. He’s also a bit conceited and his flippant attitude angers Team Rocket.

While walking through the Pokémon Village, Ash and his friends run into Gary Oak. He hopes that Ash will succeed in his initial battles—so that he’ll have a chance to beat him. After Gary has left for his first battle, Ash receives a phone call from Professor Oak. The chief Pokémon expert in Pallet Town was wondering if Ash needed to swap any of his Pokémon. Misty was just saying the same thing. Deciding that this might be a good idea, Ash asks Professor Oak to send him his Krabby. Since Ash’s first battle is at the Water Field, he could use another Water Pokémon.

Finally, the moment of truth arrives. Ash enters the arena to face Mandy. Surprisingly, Jessie and James get on the loudspeaker to offer Ash encouragement. They dislike Mandy so much that they’re willing to root for their worst enemy. Soon, a platoon of Officer Jennys takes Team Rocket into custody and the match can now begin.

The older, more experienced trainer tosses out an Exeggutor and Ash counters with Krabby. The battle is hard fought and Ash nearly loses. But at the last second, Krabby not only prevails; he evolves into a Kingler. Stunned, Mandy launches first a Seadra and then a Golbat. Neither is effective against the crustacean Pokémon and Ash is declared the winner.

According to Brock, the Pokémon Trainer’s Book says that winners should show dignity and restraint. Ash is showing the exact opposite range of emotions. He’s jumping up and down and waving to the TV cameras. Although he has every right to be happy, he still has many battles ahead of him in the competition.

#78 FIRE AND ICE

This exciting episode begins right in the middle of Ash’s second match in the Pokémon League Competition. Battling in the Rock Field, both competitors already have two victories in the match, meaning that each is down to his final Pokémon. The Red Trainer chooses Nidorino and Ash responds with Squirtle. The Nidorino attacks, but Squirtle withdraws into his shell and rolls away. At the last moment, he uses his water gun attack and then finishes the Nidorino off with a skull bash. Ash Ketchum wins!

While most of the audience goes wild, one spectator is not particularly pleased. Gary Oak sarcastically encourages Ash to enjoy the victory because he’s definitely going to lose once they face off in a later round.

Outside the arena, Team Rocket roots through the trash looking for valuables. Then, James announces that he has thought of a sneaky plan to capture Pikachu. The bumbling villains slink off, laughing.

Back at Pokémon Village, Misty is surprised to discover Brock and all the Pokémon sitting around eating. Where is Ash? He should be taking his tired Pokémon to the Pokémon Center to be recharged. Actually, Ash and Pikachu are out searching for a restaurant because the young trainer is starving! Misty catches up with him and chastises him for ignoring his Pokémon. Ash complains that he needs to eat first. Luckily, he finds an all-you-can-eat restaurant so that he an fill his empty belly.

Once he’s done eating, Ash joins Misty and they visit the local Pokémon Center. Unfortunately, all of the other trainers in town have decided to do the same thing. Joining the end of a very long line, Ash and Misty are very unhappy. They are also a little confused. Where is Brock? He told Misty that he would meet them there.

Eventually, Brock does materialize. He’s in seventh heaven due to all the Officer Jennys and Nurse Joys in town to help out with the competition. Every time one passes by, he gets all dreamy-eyed and hearts float around his head.

At this point, Ash notices that someone is beckoning to him from an alley. It’s a nurse who offers to lead them to a temporary Pokémon Center that doesn’t have a line. Of course, the nurse is really James and the center is a ridiculous trap set by Team Rocket. Although Jessie and James do briefly capture Pikachu, Brock’s Onix rescues the little guy and chases off the hapless villains.

Before returning to the Village, Ash and his friends are able to take all their Pokémon to a real center to get recharged. This is a good thing because Ash has a third round match the next day at the Ice Field. That match proves to be really tough, with Ash relying on Pikachu to fight off a powerful Arcanine.

#79 THE FOURTH ROUND RUMBLE

This time around, Ash and his friends are watching a Pokémon match instead of participating in one. Gary Oak is fighting in his fourth round match against Melissa. They have lost two battles apiece and are both down to their final Pokémon. Gary chooses his powerful Nidoking, but his opponent counters with a Golem, whose seismic toss is unstoppable. Amazingly, Gary is defeated!

After the match, Ash offers his condolences to his fellow Pallet Town contestant, but Gary is his usual, obnoxious self. Convinced that Melissa was just lucky, he hops into his convertible (that’s filled with very depressed cheerleaders) and drives away.

Ash was certain that Gary would last more than four rounds. The ten-year old boy begins to wonder if perhaps he should quit while he’s ahead. Brock won’t let Ash think about quitting and Misty quickly reminds him that his next match is about to begin in the Grass Arena.

Nearby, Team Rocket is busily selling souvenirs of the Pokémon Competition. When James professes a desire to become the best salesman around, it appears that he and Jessie have turned legitimate. That is, until they discover Meowth making “official” Pokémon badges out of bottle caps. Maybe there is a way to be both crooked and straight at the same time?

At the Grass Arena, Ash faces off against Jennette. She starts off with a very strong Beedrill and Ash sends out his trusty Bulbasaur. For a long time, it seems that the Beedrill will be victorious, but Bulbasaur uses its leech seed to drain the giant insect’s strength. Ash wins the first encounter.

Jennette now sends a Scyther into the battle area. Even though it uses its double team skill to break into three creatures, Bulbasaur eventually overpowers it. Now Ash has two victories under his belt.

For her last Pokémon, Jennette chooses a Bellsprout. The audience is stunned and so is Ash. How can this pathetic little flower beat Bulbasaur? Well, Jennette didn’t get to the fourth round of the competition on luck alone. Bellsprout absorbs Bulbasaur’s attacks and fires them right back. Amazingly, the Bellsprout wins.

Quickly, Ash sends Pikachu into the fray. But the Bellsprout’s roots “ground” the creature, rendering all of Pikachu’s electric attacks ineffectual. Demonstrating that it’s not a weakling, the little flower lashes out and stuns the electric mouse. This scores Melissa’s second victory and makes the match a tie.

The Team Rocket balloon appears over the stadium. Still wanting to be entrepreneurs, Jessie and James offer large, Pikachu balloons for sale. Two Officer Jennies spot the trespassers and order an Arcanine (though it looks like a Growlithe) to shoot the hot air balloon down with its flaming breath. They prepare to arrest the scofflaws. The last we see of Jessie and James, though, they’re happily selling refreshments to the spectators.

In the stands, Ash’s mother and Prof. Oak appear. They came to cheer Ash on and also to deliver a secret weapon—Ash’s Muk. The battle is fierce, but eventually the Muk flops down and smothers the poor little tulip. Ash wins! Now he’s just one win away from becoming a member of the Pokémon League.

#80 A FRIEND IN DEED!

After his fourth round victory, Ash announces that he wants to eat. In fact, he offers to treat Misty and Brock to dinner. It’s not such a generous offer, since, as a competitor in the Pokémon League, Ash gets to eat for free. When they arrive back at the Pokémon Village, though, Ash’s mother says that she’s going to prepare a special meal for all of them. She takes the three children and Professor Oak to a restaurant and then uses the restaurant’s kitchen to prepare their dinner. Everyone ends up enjoying the delicious meal.

Afterwards, Ash and his companions head for the elevator. As the doors are about the close, a young boy slips in. At once, he notices Pikachu and bends down to pet him. Ash warns the boy that Pikachu might shock him, but the boy scratches the electric mouse behind the ear. Smiling, Pikachu enjoys the stranger’s attention.

Suddenly, the elevator stops. Brock tries to call for help on the emergency phone but gets no response. Professor Oak guesses that the electricity must be out and that all they can do is sit and wait. The stranger has a different idea. He opens up the control panel and rewires the elevator. Then, he asks Ash if he can borrow his cute Pokémon. Soon, Pikachu’s Thundershocks are providing enough power to get the elevator down to the lobby. Ash is impressed with the young stranger’s skills and introduces himself. The boy says that his name is Ritchie and that he’s also in town for the Pokémon Competition.

As the group walks back to the Pokémon Village, they hear an announcement coming from a passing van. All trainers must bring their Pokéballs to the Pokémon Pavilion for inspection or risk disqualification from the competition. When Ash and his friends arrive, they find a mysterious looking man and woman collecting Pokéballs in a large bag. When the female tries to take Pikachu, she gets an unexpected shock—so do we! It’s Jessie. Tossing Pikachu in the sack, she and James escape in their van with all of the competitors' Pokéballs.

Ash chases after the van and is soon followed by Ritchie. Throwing caution to the wind, the trainer from Pallet takes a dangerous shortcut in order to catch the van. Only Ritchie’s quick thinking—and a flying tackle—prevent Ash from flying off the edge of a cliff. With a bit more caution, the pair succeeds in cutting off the van, but Jessie and James go off road and disappear into the woods.

As night falls, Ash and Ritchie are still hot of Team Rocket’s trail. But Ritchie suggests that they stop and wait until morning to continue the search. After all, they don’t want to get lost in the dark. Nearby, Team Rocket celebrate their greatest victory with a dance around the campfire.

The following morning, Ash and Ritchie find Team Rocket’s campsite. They sneak into the van to free Pikachu and retrieve all of the Pokéballs. But, Jessie and James wake up and drive off with the two trainers still in the back of the van. Using their Pokémon, the pair take apart the van and send Team Rocket flying.

Back at the Pokémon Pavilion, Ash finds out that Ritchie will be his fifth round opponent!

#81 FRIENDS TO THE END

Last episode, Ash made friends with another young trainer named Ritchie. Unfortunately, they both had to face each other in a Pokémon battle. After a tough fight, they end up choosing their final Pokémon. Ritchie picks his Pikachu named Sparky and Ash takes a chance on his Charizard. Although the giant lizard is very powerful, he’s also stubborn and lazy. Before the match is over, he decides to take it easy and rest. The referee decides that the Charizard has forfeited the match and declares Ritchie the winner.

Later, as Ash mopes in his cot in the Pokémon Village, his mother, Prof. Oak, Misty, and Brock discuss the match. They don’t think that Ash has any reason to be depressed. After all, he made it to the fifth round of the Pokémon Competition and very few people can do that.

This is the very thing that Misty tells Ash when she enters his bedroom. But, Ash, still feeling sorry for himself, does nothing but argue. Although the rest of the group tries to break up the argument, only a shock from Pikachu can finally snap Ash out of his blue funk. It also causes the TV to turn on. When Ash notices the coverage of the Pokémon Competition, he immediately thinks of Ritchie.

Sitting alone in the stadium locker room, Ritchie contemplates his upcoming match. Soon, Ash, Misty, and Brock appear to wish him good luck. Ritchie is so pleased to see Ash that he vows to win his match for the both of them. Misty tells him not to choke like Ash did, which makes the trainer from Pallet Town only a little angry.

Even though Ritchie is allowed to use six Pokémon, he has a tough time in the match. Eventually, his opponent’s Ivysaur throttles Sparky and the battle is over. Ash can’t believe that Ritchie lost too.

Later in a field by a lake, Ash and Ritchie console each other over their mutual losses. Nearby, Sparky and Pikachu frolic in the tall grass AND Team Rocket lurks in the shadows with shovels. The two friends vow to train as hard as they can and become Pokémon Master no matter what. Walking back to the Pokémon Village, they stumble into a trap dug by Jessie and James.

At first, it looks like Team Rocket is going to get away with the two Pikachus, but Ash and Ritchie team up and use their Pokémon to escape from the trap and defeat the pathetic villains.

Soon, Misty and Brock appear and invite the two friends to dinner. Afterwards, they all attend the closing ceremonies of the Pokémon Competition. Ash and Ritchie march into the stadium with the rest of the competitors and enjoy the tumultuous applause of the audience. All of the competitors receive special commemorative badges so that they will always remember how well they did in the competition.

The next day, Ash and Ritchie say good-bye in the empty stadium. They remind each other of their vow to become Pokémon Masters no matter what.

#82 PALLET PARTY PANIC

Returning home after the Pokémon Competition, Ash is honored at a party at Professor Oak’s house. Ash thanks all of the people of Pallet Town for supporting him and Professor Oak commends him for representing their town so well. The partygoers enjoy themselves, especially Brock who is stuffing his face with all the good food. Misty suggests that they invite all their Pokémon to the party, since they all helped Ash to get to the Pokémon Competition. Brock and Ash agree and the three friends release all of their Pokémon except one: Charizard. Misty asks Ash if he really wants to let Charizard out of his Pokéball. After a moment’s consideration, Ash decides to invite the troublesome dragon to the next party.

Inside the caterer’s tent, Team Rocket cooks up some spicy refreshments for the party. They hand three meals over to Ash, who then turns around and gives them to his two friends. While Brock digs in, Misty gives her food to her Pokémon. The spicy food causes everyone to run around searching for water. In the confusion, Team Rocket snatches Pikachu and escapes in their balloon. They prevent any pursuit by dropping bombs on the party.

Left with no other choice, Ash lets Charizard out of his Pokéball. In his nicest possible voice, the young trainer asks the dragon to save Pikachu. But, the fire-breathing Pokémon has other plans. He wants to devour a table full of food. Just as he’s about to satisfy his hunger, one of Team Rocket’s bombs destroys all of the delicious goodies. Angry, Charizard soars into the air, subdues Team Rocket and rescues Pikachu. Returning to earth, he cavorts about so much that he destroys everything left standing after Jessie and James’ aerial bombing.

Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth crash into a tree filled with Pidgeys and Pidgeottos. Trying to escape, they’re attacked by a band of Spearows led by a huge Fearow.

Back at Professor Oak’s lab, the scientist finishes treating Ash’s Pidgeotto who was injured fighting Team Rocket. Pallet's leading scientist asks Ash and his friends a favor. He needs someone to go to Valencia Island in the Orange Archipelago. Professor Ivy has discovered a mysterious Pokéball and Professor Oak needs somebody to retrieve it for him. Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to this mission. In a short time, they’ve packed their things and head off into the forest.

Once they get deep in the woods, however, the trio encounters the group of Spearows that was menacing Jessie and James. They are led by a very large Fearow with personal grudge against Ash. (This is the same Pokémon that Ash threw a rock at in the very first Pokémon episode). To get to Valencia Island, Ash has to devise a plan to defeat the Fearow and, believe it or not, rescue Team Rocket.

#83 A SCARE IN THE AIR

On their way to Valencia City to retrieve the mysterious Pokéball for Professor Oak, Ash and his friends stop at a roadside store to stock up on supplies. As Misty feeds Togepi, she wonders how long it will take them to get to their destination. Ash says that it should take them about a month to travel to Valencia Island on foot. If they took a blimp, they could fly there in a day. But the three travelers don’t have enough money to pay for blimp tickets. That is until Ash notices a special contest going on outside the store. The grand prize turns out to be free blimp tickets. Misty and Brock laugh, thinking that it’s highly unlikely that their friend will win the grand prize. But Ash surprises them and wins blimp tickets to Valencia Island.

Elsewhere, Jessie, James and Meowth contact their boss. The leader of Team Rocket has a special assignment for them. He “rewards” them with an assignment to the Team Rocket Blimp Squad. Jessie and James are so touched by the honor that they start to cry tears of joy. After they’ve signed off, the Team Rocket leader laughs. Since he hasn’t put any money into his blimps for years, they’re flying wrecks. The only reason he assigned Jessie and James to the Blimp Squad is so that they’ll destroy the blimp. That way he can collect the insurance money.

Blimp tickets in hand, Ash and his friends arrive at the airfield. They ask some workers about the blimps, but the two men are amazed that anyone would be brave (or dumb) enough to fly in those terrible wrecks. One of the workers even tells them that he thinks that the blimps are haunted. Before Ash, Misty, and Brock can change their travel plans, a pair of enthusiastic flight attendants hustle them aboard the nearest blimp. (It’s Team Rocket in disguise again). Nearby, another traveler sneaks on board—Jiggypuff!

Once they’re in the air, the three travelers explore the blimp. It turns out to be a dump. In the dining room, the floor breaks under Ash’s feet and the young trainer nearly falls to his doom. Fortunately, Misty and Brock rescue him in time for all of them to enjoy a nice meal provided by Jessie and James.

Things are looking up until the travelers ask a question about the blimp pilot. When Jessie, James and Meowth realize that there is no pilot, they rush to the cockpit. As they attempt to control the blimp, it careens into an electrical storm. The blimp is buffeted about and the outer skin starts to tear away. In all of the confusion, Togepi wanders away from the three friends.

Meanwhile, Jigglypuff sneaks into the dining room. Mistaking a candle for a microphone, he gets tangled up in a tablecloth.

Ash, Misty, and Brock search the blimp for Togepi. After being scared by a ghost (Jigglypuff in the tablecloth), they see Togepi waddling along a girder next to the torn outer shell of the blimp. If he's not careful, the tiny Pokémon will tumble out of the hole. With the help of Bulbasaur, Misty rescues the little guy.

Thinking that they've failed in their Blimp Squad assignment, Jessie and James try to make the best out of a bad situation by grabbing Pikachu. Instead, they end up tumbling out of the hole in the torn blimp casing. Now it's up to our heroes to figure out a way to pilot the damaged blimp to safety.

#84 POKéBALL PERIL

At the end of the last episode, the blimp that Ash, Misty and Brock were riding in crash-landed at an island airport. By a wonderful coincidence, it turns out to be the Valencia Island airport, which is where they were headed in the first place. Even though they’ve gotten to the right island, they don’t know where on Professor Ivy lives. Luckily, they come upon the local Pokémon center and Nurse Joy is able to point the young travelers in the right direction.

Arriving at Professor Ivy’s lab, Ash and his friends are greeted by three girls who identify themselves as Professor Ivy’s assistants. They lead the trainers down to the beach, where they encounter an impressive sight: Ivy training a large and frightening Gyrados. (Of course, Ash is impressed because the Pokémon expert happens to be very beautiful).

Back in the lab, Professor Ivy shows Ash, Misty and Brock the mysterious Gold and Silver (GS) Pokéball. She has tried so hard to open it, but every effort has failed. Now she wants to hand it over to Professor Oak and let him try to crack it.

After checking in with Professor Oak, Ash and company follow Professor Ivy out to the forest where she has bred some unusual Pokémon. Ash is surprised about how different the Pokémon of Valencia Island are compared to the ones near his home. Professor Ivy explains that this is due to the tropical climate and the different food that the island Pokémon eat. As if on cue, Ivy’s assistants appear with a cart full of Pokémon food. Most of the wild creatures happily chow down, but a sad Butterfree refuses to eat. Ivy is worried that if the insect Pokémon doesn’t eat her nutritionally balanced food, it might get sick. Brock sniffs the food, tastes it, and realizes what’s wrong. He explains that Pokémon like food that tastes good. Quickly, he mixes up some ingredients and adds them to Ivy’s Butterfree chow. Almost at once, the Pokémon flutters down from the tree it was hiding in and starts to eat. Now it’s Ivy and her assistants’ turn to be impressed.

Back at Ivy’s home, Brock makes a shocking discovery. Ivy and her assistants are terrible housekeepers. Like a man possessed, he cleans the entire house and prepares a sumptuous dinner.

That night as Ash and Misty sleep, Ivy and her assistants observe some Vileplumes spreading their poisonous spores. Brock shows up with a box full of snacks. This turns out to be a good thing because just then, a Raticate steps into the clearing and becomes overwhelmed by the spores. Ivy tries to save the poor creature, but she too is overcome. After rescuing Ivy, Brock takes her to the Pokémon Center to get some help from Nurse Joy.

As Ash and Misty prepare to leave the next morning, Brock announces that he is going to stay on Valencia Island to help Professor Ivy. Although Misty and Ash are sad to lose their traveling companion, they’re happy that he has found someplace where he can be helpful.

While the three travelers were meeting with Professor Ivy, Team Rocket was busy repairing their broken blimp. In disguise, they greet Ash and Misty and then hustle them aboard the blimp. After taking off, a cage falls on the young travelers. When Jessie and James reveal themselves to their prisoners, Jigglypuff suddenly appears. Soon, Team Rocket is escaping via parachute and Ash, Misty, and Pikachu are sound asleep in the wandering blimp.

#85 THE LOST LAPRAS

After some super-cool new opening credits, the episode gets down to business as the wandering blimp crash-lands on an apparently deserted island. But, after walking for a few hours, Ash, Misty and Pikachu discover that the island is not quite as deserted as they first thought. They are discovered by a group of tourists who are enchanted by just how cute Pikachu and Togepi are. After taking a series of photos, the tourists tell the young travelers that they are on Tangelo Island.

Soon, Ash and Misty enter Pokémon Park: the very first Pokémon vacation destination! The beachside town is full of friendly vacationers. This is not the case on the beach where a trio of punks is teasing a Lapras. Ash tells them to stop bothering the poor Pokémon, but all he does is annoy them. They decide that it’s time for a fight and they send their Spearow, Beedrill, and Hitmonchan after Pallet Town’s best trainer.

Suddenly, a dark-haired boy steps into the middle of the fray. He observes and measures each of the punks’ Pokémon, remarking how poorly they look. When he sees Pikachu, though, he gets excited. Examining the little guy, the dark haired boy asks Ash if he can measure Pikachu’s electric charge.

Meanwhile, the punks don’t like being ignored. They restart their attack, but Pikachu’s thundershock flattens them all.

With the punks gone, Ash, Misty and the dark-haired boy turn their attention to the sick Lapras. They take the creature to the Pokémon center, where they learn that the Lapras is an infant who has been separated from its parents.

The dark haired boy introduces himself. His name is Tracy and he’s a Pokémon Watcher. Watchers wander the countryside observing Pokémon in the wild. When Tracy hears that Ash and Misty know Professor Oak, he volunteers to join them in their travels. (All Watchers recognize that Professor Oak knows more about Pokémon than anybody else in the world. By joining Ash and Misty, Tracy hopes to one day meet the old Pokémon expert).

While at the Pokémon center, Ash learns about the Orange Crew, a group of trainers spread across the Orange Archipelago. They are all part of the Orange League. Ash decides to call Professor Oak and ask if he can compete in the Orange League before he delivers the GS Pokéball. Professor Oak grants his permission and wishes Ash luck.

Later, as Ash and his friends try to help the Lapras learn to like people and get healthy, Team Rocket appears. They kidnap the Lapras in a truck. Now Ash has several tough tasks ahead of him. He must rescue the Lapras and return it to its family; deliver the GS Pokéball to Professor Oak; and compete in a brand new Pokémon League. However you look at it, Ash has plenty of adventures awaiting him.

#86 FIT TO BE TIDE

#87 PIKACHU RE-VOLTS

#88 THE CRYSTAL ONIX

#89 IN THE PINK

#90 STAGE FIGHT!

#91 BYE-BYE PSYDUCK

#92 SHELL SHOCK!

Ash, Misty, and Tracy come across a news team on one of the Orange Islands. The reporter is commenting on an exciting archeolgical find—the discovery of a fossilized Kabuto shell! A group of archeaologists have arrived on the island to see if they can find any more Kabuto shells. The lead archeologist is none other than Nurse Joy. She tells the three travelers about the myth surrounding the extinct Kabuto. According to local lore, the oil from a Kabuto shell can grant immortality to anyone who uses it. Nurse Joy wants to study the Kabuto fossil and any others that she can find to see if the oil can be used as a medicinal treatment. Ash and his friends volunteer to help find more fossils.

The expedition heads off across the island in search of a secret hidden bay where there are supposed to be lots of Kabuto fossils. Following along at a distance is Team Rocket. Also trailing the expedition is a mysterious figure who occasionally rolls giant boulders down the path to impede the scientists’ progress.

Despite these occasional obstacles, the team arrives in the hidden bay and begins excavating. More boulders rain down on the scientists, but this time Pikachu and Ash see the mysterious figure and give chase. Cornering the culprit, they find that he’s a local man who doesn’t want the archeologists to disturb what has been hidden for centuries. According to an ancient prophecy, once the scavengers come and the red moon shines, the Kabutos will be reborn and the island will be destroyed. The man fears that the archeologists are the scavengers mentioned in the prophecy.

Back at the dig, some of the scientist make a great discovery—a whole cave filled with Kabuto shells. Team Rocket drags off the majority of fossilized Kabutos. But when the red moonlight hits them, all of the Kabutos come back to life—just like in the prophecy! Can the destruction of the island be far behind?

Latest Episode!!!
#93 THE JOY OF POKEMON

Ash, Misty and Tracy are sailing peacefully along on the back of Ash’s Lapras. Suddenly, a kayak shoots past them. On board are a Chansey and a very buff Nurse Joy. The three youths decide to follow and come to a desert island. Footprints in the sand lead them to a little lagoon—but where have Nurse Joy and the Chansey gone?

Out of the lagoon flies a giant Magikarp which nearly flattens them. The young travelers want to help it, but they’re afraid that the flailing creature will hurt them. Nurse Joy and her Chansey emerge from the water and give the Magikarp some tablets to make it feel better. Then, much to the Ash and his friend’s surprise, the women lifts the huge fish above her head and heaves it back in the water. Afterwards, she invites her new acquaintances to her house for some lunch.

While they are eating, Nurse Joy explains that she doesn’t work at a Pokémon Center. Instead, she services the islands too small for a center by traveling about in her kayak. The work has made her very strong. Ash, Misty, and Tracy volunteer to help her on her rounds, but soon find that they can’t keep up with the muscular woman.

Nurse Joy informs them that she has to go to an island to help a baby Seel. A big storm is brewing and Tracy tries to stop her. Because of her sense duty, Nurse Joy decides that she must chance the rough seas and takes off. The three friends foolishly jump in their kayaks because they want the help her, but soon find themselves swamped by the big waves. Now Nurse Joy must save them, instead of helping the Seel.

As the travelers recover on a small island, Jessie and James make an appearance so that they can swipe Pikachu and Nurse Joy’s Chansey. They quickly capture the group on the beach with a net. Fortunately for our heroes, Nurse Joy’s old friend, the giant Magikarp arrives to save the day. But is this real Magikarp a match for Team Rocket’s submarine Magikarp?

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