04x21 - The Grass Route

[bunniefuu]

male narrator:
It's taken quite a while,

but it seems Ash and his friends

are finally nearing the next
stop on their Pokémon journey.

- According to this Guidebook,

as soon as we get over
this mountain,

we'll be in Ecruteak City.

- I can't wait to get
to the gym.

I gotta win that Ecruteak badge.

- Pika!

- Look!

Sunflora and Oddish
and Bellsprout!

- Yeah, Gloom too!

The Guidebook said there're
supposed to be

lots of Grass Pokémon
around here.

Hey, a Skiploom.

- Skiploom, the evolved form
of Hoppip.

This happy-go-lucky Grass type
has a flower on its head

which opens and closes
depending on the temperature.

- Wow, that Skiploom looks
like it's in a hurry.

- Pika.

- [singing]
Pokémon, Pokémon, Pokémon

- Let's do it.

I wanna be the very best

Like no one ever was

Ever was, ever was

To catch them is my real test

To train them is my cause

My whole life has led to this

Time to test my skills

I know I just can't miss

Gonna show the world

Born to be a winner

- Johto

- Born to be a champion

Born to be a winner

Born to be the very best

- Pokémon
- Johto

- Born to be a winner

Pokémon

- Well, Skippy, are you ready?

Gotta make sure you're
all warmed up for the gym.

- I guess that little Skiploom
must belong to you.

- That's right.

- It seems like it's a real
happy little Pokémon.

Have you been Skiploom's trainer
for a long time?

- Sure have.

Skippy here's the first Pokémon
I ever trained.

Isn't that right, Skippy?

- Really?

That's just like us,
huh, Pikachu?

- Pika.

- My name's Ephraim.

What's your name?

- I'm Ash Ketchum.
Nice to meet you.

- Pikachu.
- My name's Misty.

- Togepi.

- Hi, Efram, I'm Brock.

- Hi, Brock.
Hi, Misty.

You guys must be going to
the Gym in Ecruteak City.

- Yeah, how'd you know
we were going there?

- Just about everybody
who comes over the mountain

is headed there.

Ash, are you the one who's gonna
challenge

the Ecruteak Gym Leader
to a match?

- Uh-huh.

I'm going for another
Johto League badge.

- Wow.

You must be a really great
Pokémon trainer, Ash.

- Maybe.

I don't like to say I'm great,
but that's what people tell me.

[laughs]

- Those people mustn't know him
too well.

- Togepi.

- Hey, Ash, you wouldn't happen
to have

any Grass Pokémon, would you?

- Grass Pokémon?

Sure, I have a Bulbasaur
and a Chikorita.

- Then how about a battle?

You can use either of your Grass
Pokémon against me and Skiploom.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Sure, I could use
a little warm-up

before I get
to the Ecruteak Gym.

Ready when you are.

- Ready!

- I choose you, Chikorita!

- Chiko!

Chiko.

- We can beat a Chikorita.

[Skiploom chirps]

Skiploom, use a Tackle Attack.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Chiko!

[Skiploom screams]

- I could've told you
that wouldn't work.

Your Skiploom's too little
for its Tackle Attack

to work on a Chikorita.

- Chiko.

- Careful, Ash!
Don't get overconfident.

- Skiploom,
try a Double Team Attack.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Chiko!

- It may be little, but
its Double Team is awesome.

- You're right,

and it takes a lot of training
to build speed like that.

- Pika.

- Chikorita,
use your Razor Leaf Attack.

- Chiko!

Chiko!
Chiko!

[Skiploom screams]

- That was a pretty good
Double Team

but not as good
as your Razor Leaf.

- Chiko.

- Skiploom,
try a Leech Seed Attack.

- Quick, Chikorita.

Knock those seeds away
with your Vine Whip.

- Chiko!

- Nice work.

Finish with a Tackle Attack.

- Chiko!
Chiko, Chiko!

[Skiploom screams]

- Oh!

- We did it!

- Chiko!

- I wouldn't be proud
of what you did.

I'd be ashamed of myself
if I were you.

- Just look there.

- Just hang in there,
little buddy.

You'll be okay.

[Skiploom chirping]

- Sorry, Skiploom.

I guess we got carried away.

- Chiko.

- Don't worry, Ash.
Skiploom will be okay.

- Maybe the best thing to do

is take Skiploom home
so it can rest.

- Yeah.

- No wonder Skippy's exhausted.

It sounds like the both of you

had a pretty tough battle
out there today, son.

- Skippy and I tried
all our best attacks,

but Ash showed me how an elite
trainer handles Pokémon.

- Well, I know you're
disappointed about losing, son,

but you should be very grateful.

I'm sure you and Skippy
learned a lot from battling

with an elite trainer like Ash.

- [laughs]

I do what I can to help
the kids.

- How would you and your friends
like to stay here tonight?

- We'd all like that
a whole lot.

Thanks.
- Pika.

- Togepi.

- These are so beautiful.

- Thank you, but they wouldn't
be half as nice

if our Grass Pokémon
hadn't helped us grow them.

- Your Grass Pokémon helped?

- It's only natural that Grass
Pokémon could understand

the feelings of flowers
and plants

a lot better
than people could.

- Interesting.
That does make sense.

- Pika.

- Grass Pokémon always look
so peaceful and gentle.

- You're right.

- That may be the way they look,

but Grass Pokémon can be
real tough battlers too.

- My son wants to prove that
so he's signed up to compete

in his first
Grass Pokémon Tournament.

- There's a tournament
just for Grass Pokémon?

- Yes, there're lots of Grass
Pokémon trainers here,

and it's become
kind of a tradition.

It may not be the Indigo
Plateau, but we enjoy it.

- Wow.

- So that must be why you
challenged Ash to a battle

when we first met.

- That's right.

You gotta have experience
to win a big tournament.

- You know what?

Maybe it's a good idea if
I enter that tournament too.

After all, I am in the Orange
League Hall of Fame,

so winning a little local
tournament like this

should be easy.

- Pika, Pika!

- Ah, isn't this lovely?

Clouds of white,
a sky of blue,

and a plate of hamburgers.

Ah, I'm so happy.

- Ah!

- Me too.

- Hey, you're eating my share!

- We have to share and share
alike, James.

It's all for one
and one for all.

- That's the spirit
of Team Rocket.

- But that's my hamburger.

Come back here, you traitors.
That's my lunch.

- Wobbuff--

- Et tu, Wobbuffet?

Hey, what's this?

- What's what?

- Read it to us, James.

- There's going to be a Grass
Pokémon Tournament tomorrow.

- There's a Grass Pokémon
Tournament?

- "The winner will be awarded
the Victory Trophy

and a collection
of valuable Leaf Stones."

both:
Leaf Stones, huh?

- Those are the rocks they use
to make Grass Pokémon evolve.

- This is perfect.

All we have to do is enter
that tournament,

win the Leaf Stones,
and sell them.

- And luckily I have a Grass
Pokémon I can battle with.

- Wobbuffet!

- All right, Victreebel,
let's do some training!

Victreebel,
battle the competition.

Not me.

- It's too bad we don't have

another Grass Pokémon
we could use.

- [laughs]
- Huh?

- When the going gets tough,
Meowth, the tough get ideas,

and I happen to have
a brilliant one.

I'm going to enter
that tournament too.

Now we'll have two chances
to win those Leaf Stones.

- I hate to break the news
to you, Jess,

but we ain't got another
Grass Pokémon.

- Ah.
leave that to me.

- Huh?

- [laughs]

- If you're thinking
what I'm thinking,

I thinking I'm in trouble.

- Skiploom.
Double Team Attack.

[Skiploom chirps]

Hurry!
Gotta go faster.

Faster, faster!

Great!
Let's take a break, Skippy.

That was really good, Skip.

I think your Double Team's
getting a lot quicker.

[Skiploom chirps]

I guess we're sort of like
these flowers.

They start as seeds,
then shoots, then buds,

and then the flowers bloom.

You and I grow little by little
day by day,

just like the flowers do,
don't we, Skip?

[Skiploom chirps]

That was a great
training session.

- You guys work really hard.
- We do.

Skiploom are pretty small
and light,

so we have to train extra hard

to make sure we can compete
against bigger Pokémon.

- That's good thinking,
but you better be careful.

Don't overtrain and get
too tired to battle

in the tournament tomorrow.

- We won't.

- Ash, when are you
and Bulbasaur

gonna start training
for the tournament?

- We don't have to train.

This isn't a major
competition.

It's gonna be a breeze.

I'm gonna check out the flowers.

Call me when dinner's ready,
okay?

- Pika.

- [humming]

- Wow, Brock.
That's confidence.

- Yeah. but you can't win a
tournament with just confidence.

- Togepi.

- Well, Skippy.

think we're ready
to win tomorrow?

[Skiploom chirps]

- Welcome.
Welcome, one and all.

The th Annual Grass
Pokémon Tournament

is about to begin.

[indistinct chatter]

- This place looks
like Loserville.

- We're a cinch to win
those Leaf Stones.

[both laugh]

- I only got one request,
you guys.

Don't fertilize me.

- Well, it's just what
I expected, Bulbasaur.

No competition for us.

- Bulbasaur.

- Ash Ketchum,
your match is up first.

- We're ready to go.

- I hope you and Bulbasaur
have good luck, Ash.

- Thanks, but I don't need luck.

- Appearing in his first
Grass Pokémon Tournament,

from Pallet Town,
here is Ash Ketchum.

This youngster reportedly did
quite well

in his first trip to
the Indigo Plateau,

so he's expected to put in
a strong showing here today.

- Go get 'em, Ash!

- You can do it!

- Pika!

- We'll pulverize 'em,
right, Gloom?

- Gloom!

- Let's wrap this up fast,
Bulbasaur.

- Bulbasaur.

- Who's that Pokémon?

It's Girafarig!

- And now the first match of the
Tournament is about to start.

- Ready.
Begin!

- Let's go get 'em, Gloom.

Start off with a Petal Dance.

- Gloom.

- Bulbasaur, grab it
with your Vine Whips.

- Saur!
Bulbasaur!

- Excellent.
Now throw it for a loop.

- Saur!

- Gloom.

- Gloom is unable to continue.

Bulbasaur is the winner.

- That was pretty easy,
wasn't it, Bulbasaur?

- Bulbasaur.

- A quick victory
for young Ash Ketchum.

He and his Bulbasaur will move
on to the next round.

- Pika!

- Ash is really doing great,
isn't he?

- Togepi.

- I hate to admit it, Misty,

but maybe there's something to

that c*ck new attitude
Ash has lately.

- Our boy Ephraim's match
is coming up next, dear.

- This is so exciting.

[all cheering]

- Now, two newcomers.

In their debut match, a local
boy, Efram, and his Skiploom

are pitted against a Victreebel
and its trainer

who goes by the name
of Mr. Semaj.

- Destroy 'em, James!

I mean, Mr. Semaj.

- Flora, Flora.

- Good luck, Efram.

- You can do it.

- Stay calm no matter what.

If we battle smart, nobody can
beat Skippy and me.

- Ready.
Begin.

- Okay, Skiploom,
let's do it.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Victreebel, attack with
your Razor Leaf.

[Victreebel screaming]

- The battle's on, and
Victreebel is on the offensive.

- Hurry, Victreebel!
Vine Whip Attack!

- Skiploom,
dodge that Vine Whip!

[Victreebel screaming]

- They've got to attack.

- This is bad.

They're letting
Victreebel take control.

- If Skiploom gets tired,
the match is over.

[Victreebel screams]

- Victreebel is attacking
relentlessly.

- We can't win the match
like this.

We have to attack Victreebel.

[Skiploom moans]

Skippy's caught in its Vine!

- All right, Victreebel,
toss it into the air.

Now squash it
with a Tackle Attack.

- Quick, Skippy,
try a Leech Seed Attack.

[Skiploom chirps]

[Victreebel screams]

- What's that?

[Victreebel screams]

- Now surround it with your
Double Team Attack, Skiploom.

[Skiploom chirps]

[Victreebel shrieking]

- Get up!
We can't lose!

- Victreebel
is unable to battle.

Skiploom is the winner.

[cheers and applause]

- We won! We won!
We won!

- That was a thrilling
come-from-behind win.

The parents of this talented
young trainer must be proud.

both:
We're very proud.

- That was my son, Efram.

Isn't he the greatest
little trainer you ever saw?

- I always knew my son
had talent,

even when he was a baby.

He used to change
his own diapers.

both: We're the proudest
Pokémon-trainer parents

in the whole world.

[laughter]

- Sometimes I wish they weren't.

[Skiploom chirps]

- I guess that training
yesterday really paid off.

- Togepi.

- Skiploom's Double Team speed's
really picking up.

It's faster today
than it was yesterday.

- James and that Victreebel
are totally worthless.

Now you and I will have to win
those Leaf Stones.

- Huh?

- Now it's time

for first-round winner Ash
Ketchum's second match-up.

- [laughs]

That guy should've said
"second victory."

- Bulbasaur.

[fanfare]

- And now making her way
into the arena

is Ketchum's opponent,

the mysterious masked beauty
known only as Eissej.

- Hey, Brock, how do they know
she's a beauty

if she's wearing a veil
over her face?

- Eissej will be using her
Sunflora,

and Ash is sticking
with Bulbasaur.

- Be tough, Meowth.

This is our chance to humiliate
that stuck up twerp.

- Don't worry Jessie.
I got my thorns out.

- That Sunflora looks
pretty puny.

This match should be like

a walk in the park for us,
Bulbasaur.

- Bulbasaur.

- Ready.
Begin.

- Go, Meowth.
I mean, Sunflora.

- Flora, Flora.

- Bulbasaur, Take Down Attack!

- Bulbasaur.

- Sunflora, Scratch Attack!

- Sunflora, Flora.

- Scratch?

- Bulbasaur.

- Misty.

How could a Sunflora
have a Scratch Attack?

- Something funny's going on.

- Pika.

- Sunflora, Sunflora, Sunflora!

- Now a Scratch Attack fake-out.

- Flora.

- Saur.
Bulba!

- Flora.
- Saur!

- Bulbasaur!

- Follow up with Fury Swipes.

- Flora, Flora, Flora
Flora, Flora.

- [chuckles]
How embarrassing.

My Sunflora's cutting you
to ribbons.

- No way.

A Sunflora couldn't use
those attacks.

- Bulbasaur's having
a tough time

against this Sunflora's
unconventional attacks.

- There's gotta be some way
to stop Sunflora.

Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf Attack.

- Bulbasaur!

- Oh!
- Pika?

- Misty, what's that?

- Looks like an ear.

- Bulbasaur,
keep hitting Sunflora

with your Razor Leaf Attack.

- Bulbasaur!

- Ah!

My petals have fallen.

- It's Meowth.
- Bulbasaur!

- What's the matter with you?
We almost had them beaten.

- Our plan's ruined!

- Folks, that Sunflora
is an imposter.

- "Prepare for trouble"
is our word to the wise.

- And make it double.
It's us in disguise.

- To protect the world
from devastation.

- To unite all peoples
within our nation.

- To denounce the evils
of truth and love.

- To extend our reach
to the stars above.

- Jessie.

- James.

- Yes, it's Team Rocket,

blasting off
at the speed of light.

- Surrender now or prepare
to fight, fight, fight, fight.

- Meowth, that's right.

- What do you want?

- We just want them
Leaf Stones.

all:
There they are!

- Not so fast.

Bulbasaur,
Vine Whip Attack 'em!

- Bulbasaur!

[all scream]

all: Team Rocket
got whipped again!

- All right!

- Pika!

- Togepi.

- Saur!

- Ketchum's skillful Bulbasaur

uses power and precision
to dominate every match.

The speedy Skiploom skips along
from one victory to the next.

[Skiploom chirps]

This is it, folks.

We're down to
the final match-up.

It's Ash and Bulbasaur versus
Efram and Skiploom.

- Who do you think's gonna win
this match, Brock?

- Ash and Bulbasaur
definitely have

more experience
and ability,

but I'm not sure they realize
how much tougher

Efram and Skiploom have gotten

and how much
they want to win this.

- Pika.

- It's so exciting to have Efram
and Ash in the final.

I'll be happy when either one
of them wins the match.

- Me too.

both: We're rooting for
the both of you, boys.

- You've both been great, but
we're gonna win this one, Efram.

- Bulbasaur.

- We fought hard to get here,
Ash,

and we didn't come to lose.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Ready.
Begin.

- Get in there, Skippy!

[Skiploom chirps]

- Let's do it, Bulbasaur.

- Saur!

- Skiploom, use your
Double Team Attack.

- That's not gonna work
on us.

Bulbasaur,
use your Razor Leaf Attack!

- Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur!

- It's faster than I thought.

- Okay, Skip.

Try a Leech Seed Attack.

[Skiploom chirps]

- Knock those seeds away,
Bulbasaur.

Whack 'em with your Vine Whip.

- Bulbasaur!

[Skiploom chirps]

- Skippy, are you hurt?

- Wear Skiploom down with
a Vine Whip barrage.

- Bulbasaur!

[Skiploom chirping]

- You can do it, Skippy!

Try to hang in there until
we can attack 'em back.

[Skiploom chirping]

- I think this may be it.

- Ash is just too good.

I guess our son's winning streak
is finally over.

- You know,
I have a funny feeling

this match isn't gonna end
the way we think.

- It won't?
- Pika.

- Bulba!

- Are you okay, Skip?

[Skiploom chirps]

- Efram, I don't want to hurt
your Skiploom

more than it's hurt now.

I think you should forfeit
the match.

- Should we quit, Skippy?

Is this the best
we can do?

[Skiploom moans]

- Misty, look.

- I don't want you to get hurt,
Skippy,

so we'll stop when
you say so.

But you worked just as hard
as I did to get here.

We can't give up
until it's totally over.

- If that's your decision,
I don't have a choice.

Bulbasaur, end it
with a Tackle Attack.

- Bulbasaur!

- Okay, do whatever it takes
to stop it, Skippy!

[Skiploom yells]

- Oh, no.

[all gasp]

- Pika?

- Skiploom's using
a Solar Beam Attack.

- Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur.

Bulba!

- Bulbasaur!

- Now's our chance.
Try a Tackle Attack!

[Skiploom chirps]

- Bulba!

Bulbasaur!

- Bulbasaur.

- Saur...

- Bulbasaur is unable to battle.

Skiploom
is the tournament winner.

both: He did it!

- In a stunning comeback,

first-time trainer Efram defeats
the powerful Ash Ketchum

and is victorious in his
first tournament appearance.

- We did it.

- Bulbasaur.
- Huh?

- Bulbasaur,
how do you feel, buddy?

- Pika, Pika.

- Bulbasaur, are you okay?

[Skiploom chirps]

- Bulba.

- I think the thing that
got hurt most was its pride.

- Thank goodness for that.

- Togepi.

- You guys surprised me, Efram.

I never expected a Solar Beam
from Skippy.

- Neither did I.

Skippy sure never knew how
to use a Solar Beam Attack

like that before
the tournament.

- Its level must've gone up
during the match.

- Huh?

- You both trained hard

and battled hard
in your matches.

It's that kind of determination
and experience

that helps Pokémon go
to higher levels

and learn more powerful attacks.

- You're right.

- I hate to admit it,

but you reminded me what
it takes to be a real winner,

so congratulations, Efram.

- Thank you, Ash.

I learned a lot from you too.

[Skiploom chirps]

- The winners of this year's
Grass Pokémon Tournament:

Efram and his Skiploom.

They've won the Tournament
Trophy,

the Leaf Stones,

and the admiration
of this crowd.

narrator: As the crowd cheers
for his opponent,

Ash's disappointment
is mixed with gratitude.

He learned that pride
goes before a fall.

That's a lesson he'll remember

when he finally gets
to Ecruteak City.

- Let's do it.

[singing]
Born to be a winner

- Johto

- Born to be a champion

Born to be a winner

Born to be the very best

- Pokémon

- Born to be a winner

- Johto

- Born to be a champion

Born to be a winner

Born to be the very best

- Pokémon
- Johto

- Born to be a winner

Pokémon