259: You're a Star, Larvitar!
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Yes they've made it; they've finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally, finally made it. Of course no Johto episode would be complete without a distraction, but we can almost forgive the twerps' meandering this time, because THEY'VE REACHED MOUNT GODDAMN SILVER! Ash calls Professor Elm from a Pokemon Centre near the base of Mt Silver, Elm rather impressed by Larvitar's progress since he last saw it. Elm tells Ash that he needs to head up to the Pokemon Preservation Centre to see Mason in regards to Larvitar, and after Ash disconnects, a young boy approaches him and asks if he wants a battle to warm them both up for the Silver Conference. Ash, of course, agrees, because he is the star of the show and that's what he does. Though of course, in today's episode, they'll be saying...
You're A Star, Larvitar!
The kid introduces himself as Satchel, and sends out a Magby to fight against Ash. Ash checks it out with his Pokedex, and then sends in.... Cyndaquil!?!?! Misty is confused by Ash's reasoning (what else is new!) since it would have made more sense to choose Totodile, but Satchel seems to like the idea of fighting fire with fire. Magby uses Flamethrower and Cyndaquil dodges, trying a Quick Attack, then a Swift Attack and Flamethrower combo. Satchel also calls for a Flamethrower, and the two jets of flame burst against each other, seemingly equal. Satchel orders Magby to turn up the heat, and it begins to outheat Cyndaquil. Ash calls for a Tackle, but Magby uses Double Team to leave it confused. Panicked, Ash tells Cyndaquil to tackle one and hope for the best, but it chooses poorly, and Cyndaquil takes a Dynamic Punch right in the kisser and goes down.... and Ash loses!
Ash checks on Cyndaquil to see it if it okay (it just got punched in the goddamn face!), then congratulates Satchel on a good fight. Satchel thanks him too, and then explains that he is trying to power Magby through a series of battles in order to get it to evolve, because he believes an evolved Pokemon is better than an un-evolved one.
A short time later, Ash sits thinking (or at least pretending to think) while Cyndaquil recovers its strength. He is concerned that Cyndaquil's defensive power and speed are not enough to get it through the Silver Conference; does he need to increase its offensive power too? He notes another trainer working with a Quilava, which looks like a fire ferret rather than a squinty baby mouse, and comes to the conclusion that all of his Pokemon are going to need some intensive training before the Conference begins. He gathers up his Pokemon and marches them off to battle as Brock, Misty and Larvitar watch in confusion, and from a distance Team Rocket's James and Meowth focus on him, while Jesse is taking a wider approach and considering ALL of the Pokemon currently at Mt Silver. She instructs James and Meowth to look yonder, then points to her left while still staring straight ahead, because apparently she can see in 180 degrees now.
Ash is working on a training regime to work all of his Pokemon. Noctowl will work on speed by dodging Pikachu's attacks, which will in turn allow Pikachu to work on its own speed as well as accuracy. Totodile and Cyndaquil will be practicing to make each otherís attacks more powerful, and Phanpy will be dodging Bayleefís razor leaf. Misty and Brock watch, the latter noting that Ash seems to have finally realised (after all this meandering) that the Silver Conference really is close, and it is time to get serious. Togepi looks about, noticing that Larvitar is missing, and Misty instantly picks up on her energy-leech's mood and makes the same observation. Larvitar itself has wondered off to look at all of the other Pokemon and their trainers, and after encountering a Voltorb, a number of the trainers spot it and guess it is a wild Larvitar come down from Mount Silver. A burly looking lumberjack of a trainer decides that he is going to try and capture it, but his hopes and dreams are dashed by an underage girl in skimpy clothes (how many times have we heard THAT story) when Misty shows up with Brock looking for it.
Suddenly a strong wind kicks up, so powerful that Pokemon are starting to lift off the ground, including Larvitar which gets pulled in. Ash notices and tries to grab at it, but the winds are too strong and he is saved in turn by Bayleef.... but what is causing this wind?
"Prepare for trouble, weíre here to inform!"
"Make it double, weíre the eye of the storm!"
"To protect the world from devastation!"
"To unite all peoples within our nation!"
"To denounce the evil of leaving well enough alone!"
"To extend our reach and make these Pokemon our own!"
"Jesse!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!"
"Meowth Dat's Right!"
"Wobbuh..... ffeettttt!"
Well this is all Ash needs to know, and he orders Cyndaquil to use Flamethrower on Team Rocket. Meowth activates the vacuum that caused the wind and it sucks up Cyndaquil along with Ash, Larvitar knocked clear and landing on top of the vacuum as it shuts off. Team Rocket make their escape, chased by Brock and Misty while all the other trainers who had their Pokemon stolen decide to just hang out because there is a really good show on television soon and they don't know how to set the VCR.
Team Rocket has landed near a cabin in the woods, and Meowth loads the Pokemon up in a truck as James offers encouragement. "Slowly, slowly, gently, more, more, and you are in!" James declares to Meowth.
Oh my!
Meanwhile inside the cabin, Ash has been tied up by Jesse but appears infuriated at what is the sad dream of a million fanboys all across the internet, and is demanding to be let go. James calls out to her that he and Meowth are done unloading....
How romantic....
....but before they can drive off, the unseen Larvitar bites a hole in truck tire, digging underground as the truck slumps to the side. It digs under the earth and pops up through the floorboards in the room Ash is tied up in.
Meanwhile, Misty and Brock have met up with Satchel, who is also looking for Ash and the stolen Pokemon (he must have seen that show on television before). Brock notes they've been looking for the balloon, but Team Rocket might have figured they would be and landed to make their escape another way.
Back at the cabin, Jesse settles down to enjoy some sun after ordering James and Meowth to fix the flat tire. Inside the cabin itself, Larvitar chews through Ash's ropes, but once the twerp is clear he snaps at Larvitar that it took too big a risk in freeing him and he doesn't want it putting itself in harm again. Larvitar is horrified at being snapped at for helping (and it is a bit jerkish to yell at someone who saved your life) and Ash quickly realises his mistake and thanks it for keeping him from starving to death. He and Larvitar slip out of the cabin and peek around the corner as James and Meowth work on fixing the tire, Jesse insisting that changing a tire is easy, which is why she got them to do it. Ash tells Larvitar to sneak up to the back of the truck and tell Magby and Cyndaquil to melt a hole in the glass tank they're being held in, so it digs into the ground and makes its way forward. Magby and Cyndaquil follow orders immediately, probably kicking themselves for forgetting that they can breathe fire, but as they do, James and Meowth finish fixing the tire, declaring that it was a manly job but they did it!
Was Meowth.... in.... again?
Larvitar, however, thinks fast and bites another hole in the tire, causing the truck to slump down once again. James begs Jesse to lend a helping hand, or at least lift a finger, and Wobbuffet pops out of its Pokeball to agree. She calls it back into its Pokeball, and then snaps at James that she IS helping, she's supervising. Noctowl flies overhead and spots them, flying back to see Misty, Brock and Satchel know.
Magby and Cyndaquil burn their way through the glass and the captured Pokemon escape, but a Quagsire gets stuck in the hole, meaning that Cyndaquil, Magby, and a Machamp have to push it out, the crashing noise capturing the attention of Team Rocket. Jesse pops over to investigate and gets a faceful of Flamethrower (delightfully hilarious until you remember they probably just gave her horrible 5th degree burns. All of the Pokemon run for it, Team Rocket accusing Ash of being a thief for stealing Pokemon that they stole first. Ash angrily points out that they stole the Pokemon themselves, and Wobbuffet proudly agrees despite Team Rocket's assurance that stealing stolen goods is still stealing! They call out Arbok and Weezing to attack Ash, but Noctowl appears on the scene and tackles them out of the way as Misty, Brock and Satchel get there. Ash and Satchel order Flamethrowers from Cyndaquil and Magby against Arbok and Weezing's Poison Sting and Sludge, then Phanpy tackles them and Totodile uses Water Gun, infuriating Jesse who pitches Arbok in against Magby, which Dynamic Punches Arbok and then evolves!
Team Rocket are understandably nervous to be facing a newly evolved Magmar, James moaning he'd prefer if it looked the other way.
James loves it when they're facing away from him!
Jesse calls for a Take Down from Arbok and a panicked James yells for Weezing to do something, anything! Magmar fires up a Flamethrower though that smashes into Arbok, and then Cyndaquil follows suit and sends Team Rocket blasting off again! Satchel is rather impressed that Cyndaquil has apparently already powered up since their last meeting, and thanks Ash for saving his Magby and all the other Pokemon. Ash says that Larvitar is the true star (hence the episode title, Gentle Dodgers) and then - with their television program apparently over now - the other trainers show up to be reunited with their missing Pokemon.
So with Team Rocket defeated, Pokemon reunited with their Trainers and Mount Silver RIGHT FUCKING THERE the episode ends, only a few hanging threads to deal with before the Johto Silver Conference finally begins. The twerps say goodbye to Satchel, Brock noting that he is going to be tough to beat, but Ash doesn't seem concerned. He retorts that his Pokemon are powerful enough even if they haven't evolved, and assures the others that as long as he uses his Pokemons' power in the right way, everything is going to be okay.
Oh shit.... he's fucked!
| BEST QUOTES |
 "I've always loved watching pokémon on parade."
"Slowly. Gently. More! More! And you are in!"
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