266: The Ties that Bind
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The Ties That Bind
Brock and Misty are concerned over Ash preparing to throw a tantrum, since in a tournament setting you really need to keep your cool. But as Ash prepares to blow, Gary pulls out a small half of a shrunken Pokeball and shows it to Ash, immediately cutting off his rage. Ash is surprised to see Gary still has it, noting that it is the Pokeball from the time they "tied", and Gary snaps back that he considers that time a loss, and stalks off after warning Ash that their match is going to be six on six.
Rushing to his room, Ash starts rummaging around in his backpack, looking for something as Brock and Misty watch on. On the ground all ready are underwear, socks, rubber globes and some tissues...
Hmmm, are we sure this isn't Brock's backpack?
He finds what he was looking for, the other half of the Pokeball. He explains to Brock and Misty that the story of the Pokeball goes back to a long time ago, before either he or Gary had started their Pokemon Journey.
Ash was fishing by the river in a cute little straw hat when he snagged a Magikarp. Triumphantly proclaiming he'd caught his first Pokemon, Ash then got slapped in the face and the Magikarp leapt back into the water. Gary chuckles to himself on the other side of the small stream, and when Ash notices him he demands to know what he is doing there. Again, Gary chuckles as he says he is fishing, and Ash angrily snaps at him to tell him something he doesn't know. Gary smiles and asks if he is feeling philosophical, and yes, Gentle Dodgers, poor dim Ash actually asks if that is a new Pokemon!
When Gary simply laughs at him, Ash yells that this is HIS secret fishing Spot, and Gary admits that it is one of the best places in Pallet Town for fishing. Ash is proud of this circuitous compliment, until Gary notes that he has known about the spot for years and then points out that Ash just got his ass handed to him by a Magikarp, one of the most pathetic Pokemon of them all. He asks Ash if he even knows any of the Pokemon's attacks and Ash tries desperately to come up with something, while Gary just smirks and then pulls out a book written by Professor Oak, rubbing it in Ash's face that his hero, Oak, is Gary's grandfather.
Well yes, but he's not the only one related!
Then things turn nasty as Gary sneers that Ash will never achieve his dream of being a Pokemon Master, and Ash yells that you'll never know unless you try. Gary has an answer for everything though, and points out that Ash has never been able to defeat him no matter how hard he tries. Ash is furious, but then distracted when his line snags something at the same time as Gary's.... the same thing as Gary's! They tug angrily on their lines and haul up a Pokeball, and both pull back and forth against each other, neither wanting to give up a chance to get their first ever Pokeball. They run along the sides of the stream and reach a bridge, shouting insults at each other as they tug and tug.... and the Pokeball snaps in two and falls to the ground. Ash picks up his half and comments it is a draw, but Gary is livid, snapping that tying with him is just as bad as losing, and storms off with his own half of the Pokeball.
Returning to the present, Ash tells Misty and Brock that he kept the Pokeball all this time as a good luck charm, saying it represents all of his hopes and dreams as a Pokemon Trainer. They offer some words of support and he leaps up, fired up and proclaiming that tomorrow Gary is going down!
Which is when they remind him that tomorrow is a rest day.
Elsewhere, Team Rocket has hit a sales bump due to the day off. Without any matches going on, there are no crowds, and no crowds means no money, and no money means sad. But James has an idea, if they have a one-day sale to sell "The Johto League Limited Edition Silver Conference Commemorative Pin", they'll attract all those collectors who simply MUST have complete sets. Meowth and Jesse squeal in delight at the thought of all the money and they get to work.
The next morning, Misty gets up and finds that Ash and Brock are all ready up; or rather they haven't been to sleep. Ash is sitting at the computer while Brock reads through massive piles of books, and it seems they've been pulling an all-nighter. Ash declares happily to Misty that he is too excited to be sleepy, and Brock notes that Ash has spent most of the night trying to figure out how to browse the Internet. Misty says she could have helped, but Ash laughs he is doing fine and has figured out how to run it, as he browses through Gary's files and looks up his Pokemon.... and then the computer promptly crashes (which apparently involves a bomb appearing on the screen followed by lots of pictures of Gary's face). Misty tells them they need to take a break, and they grab some breakfast.
As they eat, Misty asks what they've learned and Brock explains that Gary doesn't seem to focus on any one particular type of Pokemon. Gary also rotates out his multiple Pokemon to ensure they are all heavily levelled up, meaning there is no "weak link" in his line-up. So what is Ash's strategy when it comes to a strong line up of multiple Pokemon types with no weaknesses?
You bring in a heavy hitter.
A distant shadow appears in the sky high above, coming closer and growing larger, a winged roaring shape that is.....
HOLY FUCKING SHIT IT'S CHARIZARD!
Ash dances in delight (even though he isn't Totodile) and then Charizard says hello as affectionately as he can by blasts Ash with a full burst of fire directly onto him. Brock explains that he called Leeza to ask for Charizard to pop in and give Ash a hand, and they watch as Ash laughs happily with Charizard.... and then they realise that Gary is standing watching them silently.
Ash turns and stares at his great rival, and the tension mounts, each staring down the other, Misty and Brock concerned bystanders watching on as the only thing missing is an Ennio Morricone theme. They glare at each other and the pressure builds and then..... Professor Oak slides into view and proclaims it is time for a poem!
Delia also arrives on the scene (of course) in a little blue dress and white jacket and both Ash and Gary stare in shock (poor Gary, his Grandfather showing off his long-time mistress so blatantly!). Oak explains that they just had to see the battles live, and then tells them both to lighten up so they don't end up exhausted by the time their battle comes around.
The tension broken, Professor Oak asks them both to give their Pokedex's so he can update them, and Misty asks if there are any newly discovered water types she doesn't know about while Brock takes the opportunity - as always - to point out he is a breeder (snicker). Gary peers at his Pokedex and seems to suddenly light up, saying he has to go before quickly disappearing. Professor Oak figures he is working on his battle strategy, and Brock tells Ash it is time for him to get back to work on his as well. Delia tells the son she pitched out alone in the wilderness at the age of ten that she's so proud of him before he leaves, and then she and Oak comment on how long the two boys have been rivals.
About the same length of time that Oak has been plowing Delia?
Meanwhile, Team Rocket's business is doing wonderfully, Meowth and Jesse celebrating their cash windfall over sacks of money with Rs on them. As they laugh happily, James is all ready back to work on the machines to make more badges to sell tomorrow.
So the next day dawns, with the Victory Tournament beginning for the Top 16 at Silver Stadium. There are four different types of battlefields chosen at random for the contestants, between grass, rock, water and ice. The first battle of the day is between an unnamed opponent (God even Salvador of Cherrygrove City got a name!) and Harrison, and they're fighting on an ice field. Harrisonšs Sneasel takes out a Machoke, which happens to be Mr No-Name's last Pokemon, so Harrison moves on to the next round.
In the locker room, Ash stares at his half of the old Pokeball. Harrison enters and Ash congratulates him for his victory, and Harrison replies that once Ash finishes his match with Gary, he'll be waiting for him, confident that Ash will win. The call comes through that it is time for Ash to meet his destiny against Gary, and he steps into the Rock Field where the two will fight. As the announcer notes that both Gary and Ash are from the same town, Gary's cheerleaders make an unexpected return, cheering for Pallet's local Big Man On Campus.
The random selection chooses Gary to call out the first Pokemon, and it's Nidoqueen. Ash replies with Tauros and then.... the fight is on!
Nidoqueen uses Rock Smash, hitting the ground and splitting the surface to send rocks shattering up against Tauros. Ash calls on Tauros to use Horn Attack to slap away the shrapnel, while in the crowd Delia squeals with delight and takes plenty of photos while Professor Oak brags that Tauros got strong from running around on his research grounds. But as Tauros approaches Nidoqueen, we learn that this wasn't enough, as Nidoqueen grabs Tauros by the horns and then lets rip with a massive burst of Hyper Beam at close range, effective scoring a one hit KO!
Ouch, that was quick.
Brock tells Misty that Gary's Pokemon are all powerful, and that Ash will have to come up with a more creative strategy than "run in and hit shit". But Ash begs to differ, and calls on a Pokemon well known for "running in and hitting shit", Heracross! Gary immediately calls back Nidoqueen and sends in Magmar, firing off a Flamethrower. Heracross dodges and uses Fury Swipes, getting in close and flipping it into the air with its horn. Up in the air, Gary sees a chance and calls for Magmar to use Fireblast. It leaps into its own attack and smashes flaming and burning directly into Heracross, smashing the freaky fetishist hard into a rock and smashing it with a point blank Flamethrower. Ash is prepared though, and has Heracross fan its wings and blow out the flames before smashing in with a Horn Attack and putting Magmar down, impressing everyone in the crowd.
Except Gary.
He laughs that Ash is as reckless as always, and then calls out to "Ashy-Boy" that he'd like to see him deal with this, and sends in HIS heavy hitter, Blastoise!
A shocked Brock agrees with Misty that this is indeed the evolved form of Gary's first ever Pokemon - Squirtle - while up in the crowd, Professor Oak tells Delia that this IS Gary's most powerful Pokemon. Ash isn't intimidated though, and sends in Heracross with Fury Swipes against Blastoise's Hydro Pump, and the two charge at each other.
But if you expected to see this six on six battle end this episode, Gentle Dodges, well we have bad news. This episode is.... to be continued.
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