04x45 - The Big Balloon Blow-Up

[bunniefuu]

male announcer: Today
we find Ash and his friends

walking through
a beautiful meadow,

where they're about
to encounter something strange.

- Hey, what's that thing?

- Looks like a big "X."

- What's it doing
way out here?

- Maybe it's a no parking zone.

- In a place like this?

- It could be one of those
crop circles UFOs make.

- Hmm.

- Pika!

[all yell]

- What's this thing?

- Sorry.

[Fearow squawks]

- Pika, Pika.

- A Fearow?

- And a Fearow balloon.

- Cool.

- I'm real sorry.

I didn't hurt anybody, did I?

- No,
but it was pretty close.

My name's Ash.

- Hi, my name's Misty.

- And my name's Brock.

- My name's Skyler.

- What is this thing?

- Oh, there's no big mystery
about this old thing.

It's a marker I use
for target practice.

- Target practice?

- You mean,
this "X" is a target?

[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

- Do you do a lot
of hot air balloon flying?

- Uh-huh.

I wanna be a professional
balloon pilot some day.

You know, at first
I only used balloons for flying

with Spearow and Fearow
to help 'em train and evolve.

[Fearow squawks]

- But pretty soon,

I got really interested in hot
air ballooning as a career.

- It must be fun.

- I'm back, Papa.

- Yes, and I see you've got
some company with you.

- It's nice to meet you, sir.

- Well, it's nice to meet you
too, young man.

Welcome to my studio.

- Are you an architect
or a sculptor?

- He's both.

My father designs
and builds hot air balloons

that look like Pokémon.

- Wow!

They're all beautiful.

- This one looks just like
a Phanpy.

- I like balloons
as much as Pokémon.

- Yeah, sometimes I wish we had
our own balloon

so we could
get around quicker.

- Hey, there's gonna be a big
balloon competition tomorrow,

and there's still time to enter.

Why don't you guys sign up?

- Okay,
where do we sign up?

- Ash, how we gonna compete
without a balloon?

- Yeah, that's right.

- Pika.

- You're in luck.

I think there's something
in my storeroom

that may interest you.

- Wow,
it's awesome.

- It's yours to use
for the competition.

- Pika!

- Hot air balloon
competitions

are more than simple races.

You see,
the object of this competition

is to be the first team
to get to the target

and throw a marker
as close as possible

to the center of the "X"
from a height

of at least a thousand feet
within the given time limit.

- [grunts]

- Hmm, that doesn't look
too hard to me.

- We're not too high, but try
it from a thousand feet up,

and I bet it's not so easy.

- There's something else
about this competition.

You get to use your Pokémon
to help you make it out

to the target.

[Fearow squawks]

- Hey, I could use my Noctowl
to pull the balloon.

- Crobat could pull us
even faster than Noctowl.

- Yeah, but it's a little
more complicated than that.

Sometimes balloon pilots
call it "catching the wind."

- What's "catching the wind"?

- The Pokémon can only help pull
you into the right air currents.

- And you don't just keep
your burner going all the way.

You use it
when you want to climb

and leave it off
when you want to descend.

- You have to use your burner
and your Pokémon together

to make sure you're in the
right place at the right time.

Understand?

- Hmm.
I think I understand you.

- Fearow, let's show Ash
how we find a current

and catch the wind.

[Fearow squawks]

[dramatic music]

[Fearow squawks]

- Yeah, looks like Fearow found
a nice current for us to ride.

- I'll turn the burner on

and see if the balloon
can catch it.

[dramatic music]

I think we're in
for a beautiful ride, son.

- Grab the line, Fearow.

[grunts]

All right, now let's fly.

[Fearow squawks]

- Okay, now we're gonna catch
the wind.

Come on out, Noctowl.

I choose you!

[Noctowl trills]

Here you go, Noctowl.

Grab the line.

[Noctowl trills]

Good. Now start pullin' us up
as fast as you can.

[Noctowl trills]

[all yell]

- Pika!
- You're going too fast.

You'll wear Noctowl out.

Just find a current and maneuver
your balloon so you can ride it.

- I get it.

Noctowl,
you gotta slow it down!

[Noctowl trills]

It's not as easy
as it looks.

Brock, you better handle
the burner.

- Leave it to me, Captain.

[Noctowl trills]

- That's more like it.

After all,
it's a balloon, not a jet plane.

[Togepi squeaks]

- It looks like the three twerps
are in the Pikachu balloon.

- I wonder how they managed
to get themselves

in a hot air balloon,

and I also wonder how long it'll
be until Meowth disturbs us.

- Hey, I found somethin'.
- Huh?

- Take a look at this.

They're havin' a big
hot air balloon competition,

and the first prize
is this new super-duper

high-tech balloon engine.

If we had this engine,

we could make our getaways
so fast

that nothin' could stop us,

not even Pikachu's Thunderbolt.

- We certainly can't let
an opportunity like this

pass us by, James.

- But to get the engine,
we'd have to win the contest.

- And winning
isn't our strength.

- That's true,
but if we really tried hard,

I'm sure we could steal it.

- That sounds like
a winning solution to me.

- We ain't stealin' it!
both: Huh?

- We're gonna enter that
competition and win that engine

fair and square.

- Just relax and open wide.

- You must have a fever,

because
you're obviously delirious.

- Let me take
your temperature.

- I ain't got no fever.

I have to prove myself
as a hot air balloon pilot,

so I'm gonna enter
that competition and win it.

- Meowth's got a temper.

- I wonder if Meowth's
has distemper.

[dramatic music]

Jessie Meowth has to win
this competition.

- So we'll make sure
there's no competition.

[fireworks booming]

- The Pokémon balloons
are cool.

- I love that Wigglytuff.

- There's an Electrode.

- And look,
there's a Hoppip.

- If I can just win
that first prize,

my dad and I can build
the greatest

hot air Pokémon balloon ever.

- You're gonna win that engine.

You and your Fearow and your
dad seem like a great team,

and teamwork's
what it takes to win.

- Thanks.
I hope you're right.

- If you haven't
registered yet,

you can fill out an entry form

and complete
your paperwork here.

- Don't forget to put
my name in, James.

- Yes, and Meowth's too.

- You don't have to put down
the name

of the Pokémon you're using.

- Whaddya mean "usin'"?

- [gasps]

- Nobody's usin' me, pal.

I'm the balloon pilot here.

These two are just along
for the ride.

- Meowth, that's right.

- Meowth's quiet an expert
in hot air.

- [sighs]

Okay.

- We'll try to remember
everything

you taught us yesterday, Skyler.

- I'm sure you guys
are gonna do great, Ash.

- I know you'll try
your best, Ash,

but you should also try
to enjoy the experience.

If you do that, I guarantee
you'll be a big winner,

no matter who wins
the competition.

- Okay.
- Pika.

- Hey, guys, look over there.

- Huh?
- Huh?

- A Meowth balloon?

- Don't tell me
they're in the competition too.

- Prepare for trouble.
we're going to win it.

- We can hardly wait
to begin it.

- 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.

- Team Rocket blasting off
in a hot air balloon.

- Surrender now, twerps,
or prepare to lose to us soon.

- Meowth, that's right,

and I'm the one
who's gonna beat ya.

- Why haven't you three
learned your lesson yet?

You're Team Loser,
so get lost.

- No way.

Hot air balloonin' happens
to be somethin' I'm good at.

And today I'm gonna prove it
to everybody.

No tricks today.

Today we're playin'
strictly on the up and up.

- Meowth either has
a burning desire

or a bad eye inflammation.

- There's no way we're gonna
lose to you three losers.

- Balloonists, get ready!

Begin!

[g*nsh*t]

[frantic music]

[yelling]

- Whoa!

[yelling]

- Hoppip, Hoppip.

- No, come back!

- Ah!

- Whoa!

- Somethin' funny's
goin' on here.

- Wow, a lot of balloons
dropped out already.

- Yeah, I never thought that
hot air ballooning

could be so dangerous.

[cell phone beeping]
- Pika?

- Go.

- Ash, did you see what happened
to all those other balloons?

It can't just be
a coincidence.

- Yeah, I know.

- Maybe you better talk
to Ash.

- Ash, it's very important

that you check out
your equipment immediately.

Is anything wrong
with your burner?

- The burner works okay.

- And as far as I can see,

the basket and the ropes
and the balloon all seem fine.

- Our balloon
checks out okay,

but we'll be extra careful.

- Coming through.

all: Huh?

- Cheaters!

It was you
who sabotaged those balloons.

- That's a lie!

We're doin' everything
strictly by the book here.

Right, Jessie?
Right, James?

- Uh-huh.

- I don't believe it.

- I done a lot of lyin'
and cheatin' in my day,

but today
I'm on the up and up.

Heh. Them other teams
gotta rely on Pokémon

to move their balloons around.

- Correct me if I'm wrong,

but Meowth
is a Pokémon, right?

- And Meowth
is moving our balloon.

- Doesn't that mean that
we're relying on a Pokémon

to move our balloon too?

- Hey, what's all
the whisperin' about?

Don't worry, I'm gonna win
that prize usin' skill,

and skill alone.

[Noctowl trills]

- I don't care if we lose,

but we can't let
Team Rocket win.

- Pika, Pika!

- Who's that Pokémon?

It's Remoraid!

- The key
to hot air ballooning

is carin' for your balloon
properly,

and if those other teams
that dropped out

would've kept
their balloons in shape,

one of them might be
in the lead now.

- Well, our plan
is working perfectly, James.

- And we're finally
out of sight

of the competition
command center.

Shall we move
onto stage two of our plan?

- What plan are you talkin'
about there, guys?

- Our secret plan
to get our hands on that engine.

- The secret's out.

Come out, Weezing.
I choose you!

Go!

- Weezing.

- Use your Smog Attack.

- What's goin' on?

- Weezing.

- You see?

I knew they'd show
their true colors.

- Yeah, they must've been
the ones

who sabotaged
the other balloons.

- They never change.

- Ah!

[yelling]

- Oh, no!

[Fearow squawks]

[Noctowl trills]

- Ah!

How could you do
such a thing?

This isn't a battle;
It's a competition!

- Hey, what are you tryin'
to do?

That's against the rules.

We're gonna get disqualified!

- Say, what's gotten into you,
Meowth?

- Yes, what's the big deal,
Meowth?

Breaking the rules
is standard operating procedure

for Team Rocket.

- This is the easy way
to get rid of the competition.

- No!

- All right, Arbok,
use your Poison Sting Attack

to sh**t those balloons down.

Go!

[Arbok yells]

- Look out
for those stingers!

- Fearow,
pull us out of the way!

[Noctowl trills]

[lasers firing]

- Ah!

- Yay! Yay!

- Cheating
makes competing fun.

- That's enough.

[laser firing]

[both yelling]

- You have some nerve, Meowth.

What are you attacking us for?

We're trying to help you win.

- Make up your mind, Meowth.

What do you want to be,
a winner or a loser?

- I may be a loser,
but I still got my pride.

I wanna prove to myself
that I can win somethin'

without cheatin'.

- If we don't cheat,
do you think Meowth

has a chance to win?

- About one chance
in a billion.

- We want to win
just as much as you do.

- Ah!
Hey, quit.

Wait. Stop!
Let me go!

Ow.
Hey, no, quit it!

- Sorry, Meowth.

You'll have to find
self-esteem elsewhere.

- Untie me now!
Huh?

[thunder rumbling]

Those are storm clouds!

if we get blown off course,
we'll never finish,

and we'll lose
the whole competition!

Untie these ropes.
I gotta take command!

- What do you think, James?

Maybe we are in trouble.

- No need to worry, Jessie.

I planned ahead.

We'll fly through the clouds
with Team Rocket power.

- That's against the rules.
Just untie me.

- Rules are for fools, Meowth.

You want to win
that engine, don't you?

- The judges will never
even know that we cheated.

- First prize, here we come.

- Get ready to rocket.

- Prepare for victory.
- No!

- Team Rocket's
blasting off again!

- Try to stay calm,
and you'll get through.

Just hold to your position
and steady the basket, Ash.

- Our flame's gettin' real low.

- Whatever you do,
don't let the burner go out.

If you lose
too much altitude,

you'll hit the mountains.

[Fearow squawks]

- Hang in there, Fearow!

[squawking]

- Pika!

- Guys, look.

Something's going wrong
with the burner.

[burner sizzles]

- It's no use.

The burner
is completely gone.

- One of Arbok's stingers
must've damaged it somehow.

[Noctowl trills]

- What's the matter, Ash?
You're falling.

- Our burner's broken.
The flame went out.

- You've got to do something
fast, Ash.

If any of you
has a fire Pokémon,

use it to replace the burner

and heat the air
like the Magmar

and that other balloon did.

- It's not a strong as Magmar,

but our only hope now
is Cyndaquil.

- That's it.

Cyndaquil, I choose you!

- Cynda!

Wah!

- Quick, Cyndaquil,
use your Flame Thrower

to heat up the balloon.

- Cynda!

Eee!

- Hang in there.

- Pika!

- Whee!

- You can do it!

[Noctowl trills]

- Whee!

- Cyndaquil, maximum power.

- Whee!

- We made it.

You saved us, Cyndaquil.

- Pika!

- The storm's behind us,
and we're ahead.

- We'll have to be very humble
and overwhelmed

when we accept the prize.

[expl*si*n]

Look, the twerps and that
kid in the Fearow balloon

are still on our tail.

- And it looks like the twerps'
balloon has a brand-new burner.

- Huh?

That's Cyndaquil.

They're flyin' on Poké Power.

- What's gotten into you,
Meowth?

Whose side are you on,
theirs or ours?

- I'll fix them!

Twerp target practice time.

- No, wait.

- Oh, look my thumb slipped.

[rockets firing]

- Guys, look out!

[rockets exploding]

- Whee!

[squeaking]

- I'll save you, Cyndaquil.

Nice catch, huh, Cyndaquil?

- Cynda.

- Ah!

both: Oh, no.

- Pika, Pika!

- I'm all right.

Cyndaquil, get up
and use your Flame Thrower.

- Cyndaquil.

[squeaks]

- Pika.

Pik-Pika!

- Well, it looks like
our friend Pikachu

is getting ready to hit us

with one of its
Electric Attacks again.

[rocket fires]

- Pikachu can't shock us
from this far way.

- Nah, nah.
Catch us if you can.

- Pika?

- All right, Noctowl,
let Pikachu on your back

and chase them!

[Noctowl trills]

It's all up to you now,
Pikachu.

- Pika.

- Okay, Noctowl,
go get those losers.

- Pika!

- Oh, no,
they are coming to catch us.

- No problem, Jess.

We'll get them
before they get us.

[rockets fire]

[Noctowl trills]

- Pika!

- Skyler, maybe Fearow
can help them get through.

- Right.

Fearow, release the line.

[Fearow squawks]

Fearow,
use your Drill Peck Attack

to destroy that rocket launcher.

[Fearow squawks]

[rockets exploding]

[Fearow squawks]

[expl*si*n]

- Our missiles seem to be
missing something.

- In a moment I have a feeling
we'll be missing.

- We'll also be missing
the award ceremony.

- Wobbuffet!

[Noctowl trills]

- Pika.

- Okay, Pikachu,
use your Thunderbolt.

- Pika!

Pikachu!

all: Ah!

We're blasting off again!

- Wobbuffet!

- Pika!

- Nice work, Pikachu.

- You too, Noctowl.

- Get ready to throw
your marker, Ash.

We're gonna have to hurry.

- We're almost
at the time limit.

We can't wait.

We'll have to throw them
from here. Over.

- Okay, I copy.

Here goes.

Hit that target, marker!

- [grunts]

both: All right!

[cheering]

- First, I'm happy to report

that none of our grounded
balloonists were hurt.

I'm also happy to report
that two victors have emerged.

Both of them
landed their markers

in the middle of the target
at the same moment.

So we have a tie!

But we've never had a tie
for first place before,

and, unfortunately, we have
only one first place prize.

- I know we're tied,

but I want you to have
that engine.

- What about you?

- We don't need an engine,
and besides,

we had a great time learning
about ballooning and competing.

- That's prize enough
for me.

- And if it hadn't been
for you, Skyler,

we wouldn't have even been
in the competition.

- Thanks, guys.

- Because of you, we'll be
soaring higher than ever.

[applause]

narrator: Our heroes have come
back down to earth,

and their journey continues.

But they've gained
some valuable experience,

and their hopes
are still flying high.

- 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