05x45 - Better Eight Than Never

[bunniefuu]

male narrator: In order
to earn his final

Johto League gym badge,

Ash challenged Claire, the
leader of the Blackthorn Gym,

to a battle.

As a powerful Dragon Trainer,

Claire proved to be one of
Ash's toughest opponents.

Even though Ash cleverly
used the strengths of his team

to battle her,
his Pokémon were overwhelmed

by the incredible force
of Claire's Dragon Pokémon,

leaving him in a
precarious situation.

Finally, Ash was able to
beat Claire's strongest Pokémon,

Dragonair, by using his
ace-in-the-hole, Charizard!

And by pulling off
this amazing victory,

Ash earned his eighth badge
and the right of entry

into the Johto League.

[singing]
- Pokémon

- No time to question my moves

I stick to the path
that I choose

Me and my friends
are gonna do it right

You'll never see us
run away from a fight

To be a Master is my dream

All I've got to do is believe

And I believe

I've got a chance to win

I'm on my way to victory

- Pokémon

- I can be a Champion

If I just believe

I'm on a Master Quest

Master Quest

I want the whole world to see

And I believe

I'm gonna be the very best

'Cause all I've got to do

Is believe in me

- Pokémon

- Thanks for waiting, guys.

I'm sorry this
took so long.

I hope you're
all still hungry.

- Oh, yeah!
- We are!

- That looks great!
- Thanks.

Bet I know why you're so
cheerful today, Ash,

and it's not
'cause of the food.

- You're right!

- I've got eight badges,
so I can finally compete

in the Johto League!

- Officially, it's referred
to as the Johto League

Silver Conference.

- Really, the
Silver Conference?

- Pika!

- Claire, do you know
when and where

the Conference is gonna be?

- Yes, it'll take place
three months from now,

in Silver Town,
at the foot of Mount Silver.

- Sounds good to me!

Yeah!

Silver Town, here I come!

- But, Ash, you heard
what Claire said.

It's still three
months away.

Can we at least finish
our breakfast first?

- Uh.
- Togepi!

- Anyway, I doubt they'd let you
just walk into the Conference.

don't you think you probably
have to register for it first?

- Oh, yeah.

- Ash, where did you
register so that you could

travel around to each
of the Johto League gyms?

- New Bark Town.

- Then it's no problem.

You can register
for the Silver Conference

in the New Bark Town
Pokémon Center.

- All right!
Then that's where I'm going!

New Bark Town, here I come!

- Oh, chill out, Ash.

- You're just determined
to give us all an upset stomach,

aren't you?

- What do you know?

The twerp has finally gotten
all eight of his badges.

- 'Bout time!

You thinkin' what
I'm thinkin', James?

- I'm thinking people
would pay a lot of money

for those badges
if we got our hands on 'em.

- You two have it all wrong!

- Huh?

- You have a better idea,
Jessie?

- Of course!

If I had all eight
of those badges,

I could compete
in the Tournament myself.

- Huh?

- Have you somewhat blocked
out what happened to us

at the Indigo Plateau?

- Stick with the crimes
you're good at!

- I just know this
time will be different!

- All right.
- All right.

- Whatever.

- If you can take
the humiliation, so can I.

- Then we all agree.

Let's eat our doughnut
holes to celebrate!

Ahh!
Where'd they go?

There was a whole bag
of doughnut holes here!

- Wobbuffet!
- Wobbuffet!

- Last time you ate
eleven of our doughnuts.

- This time's the holes
out of them!

- And what do you have
to say for yourself?

- Wobb, Wobb, Wobb,
Wobbuffet!

- That was a great breakfast!

Just what I needed
to fuel up for my victory

in the Silver Conference.

- Didn't have to take
the last sausage.

- Pikachu!

- Hello there!
- Huh?

- Is it true you're the twerp--
I mean trainer, Ash?

- We're reporters from
"The Pokémon Daily."

- Really?
You're news reporters?

- Pikachu!

- Congratulations to you!

- Rumor has it that you've
earned your eighth badge

and are now on your way
to participate

in the Johto League
Silver Conference!

Tell us about it.

- I'm sure our readers would
be interested in hearing

about your adventures.

- Wow, I'm gettin'
interviewed already,

and the Silver Conference
isn't even for three months?

- Don't get a big head, Ash,
and don't forget to mention

your friends in the article!

- Then let's get
to the interview.

But first some
photos right over here.

This jacket won't do.
Let's try something more you.

- Uh...
- I've got just the thing.

Try this on.

- Here it is, Meowth.
Hurry it up.

- One switcheroo comin' up!

- Hey!

I look pretty good in
this stuff, don't I?

- Just like a king,
only shorter.

Now give me some poses!

- Ta-da!
- Yes!

- Yeah!
Yeah, baby!

- Look at 'em!

- The twerp's badges are ours,

and we didn't even
break a sweat swipin' 'em!

- Wobbuffet!

- Here you are!

- Good, now get out of sight.

- Kay.
- Let's go.

- Yeah!

- Yeah baby, work it for me!
- Hey!

- Well, that about wraps it up.
Here's your jacket.

- Your fans will love
these pictures!

- Thank you for your time.
- You mean the interview's over?

- Good luck at the Conference!
- Hey, wait a minute.

Aren't you guys supposed
to ask me questions and stuff?

- I was all prepared
and everything.

- Hmm?

- Wait!
Prepare.

- And make.
- Not now!

You've got to resist the urge!

- He better not say...
- Anything else!

- Come on!

Since you already went
to all this trouble.

- All right then,
prepare for trouble!

- And while you're at it,
make it double!

- [gasping]
- Not you guys!

- [groans]

- 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, blast off
at the speed of light.

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

- Mee-owth.

There was no stoppin' 'em.

- Team Rocket!
- Pikachu!

- Yeah whatever, we didn't
make a clean getaway, so what?

- We do have
what we came for.

- Yer stinkin' badges!

- What?
My badges are--

Oh!

- I hope you don't mind,
but we've taken your badges

and replaced them
with eight bottle caps

we found on the road.

- They're worthless,

but you have to admit
they are attractive.

- Have a nice day!

- Come back here, you crooks!
- Ash, wait!

- Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb!

Wobb! Wobbuffet!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb--

[sniffing]

Wobbuffet!

Wobbuffet!

Wobbuffet!

- Wobbuffet, good work!

- You guarded the badges and
picked us all this fruit to eat.

- I was wrong about you,
Wobbuffet.

You're all right.

- Wobbuffet!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb--

Wobb, Wobbuffet!

- Wy--

- Wobbuffet!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Wobbuffet!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Wobbuffet!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Wobbuffet!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Wobbuffet!

- Oh, good job, Wobbuffet.

- Now give me the case.

I want to see
my precious badges.

- Wobbuffet!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

- What's the matter, Wobbuffet?

- Wobbuffet!

- What?

You'd better not be telling us
you lost that case, Wobbuffet.

- Wobbuffet!

- Then hand it over,
you bubblehead!

- Wobbuffet!

- I want it!

- She wants it!

- Hold on a minute.

I think it's tryin' to tell us
somethin' happened to it.

- Hmm?

- Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

- Whoa.

It's sayin' the case was right
here when some strange Pokémon

came outta the bush
and just snatched it!

- Give me a break!

- If you saw it,
what kind of Pokémon was it?

- Wobbuffet!

- Speak English,
for crying out loud!

- Wobbuffet!
- Hmm?

- Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb!

Wobbuffet!

- It's my childhood nanny!

What was she doing here?

- Wobbuffet!

- Wobbuffet says
it was a blue color.

- Well, then it must
have been a Wooper.

- Excellent.
Then we know what to look for.

- So when we find the Wooper,
we find the badges!

all: Yay!

- Wobbuffet!

- Find anything?

- Not a trace of 'em.

- If nothing else, those three
sure are good at running.

- Togepi!

- If you report that your
badges were stolen, Ash,

I'm sure they'll be
reissued in time.

- Yeah, you're right,
but those badges were special.

I earned my Glacier badge
from Falkner in the Violet Gym.

And I got my Hive badge
from Bugsy in the Azalea Gym.

My Plain badge came from
Whitney in the Goldenrod Gym.

I earned the Fog badge
from Morty in the Ecruteak Gym.

And then my Storm badge from
Chuck in the Cianwood gym.

And my Mineral badge from
Jasmine in the Olivine gym.

I got my Glacier badge
from Pryce in the Mahogany Gym.

And finally, my Rising badge
from you, Claire,

in the Blackthorn Gym.

Every one of those badges
is a memory of the battles

and trainers I faced.

Even if I replace 'em,
it won't be the same.

- I understand why those
badges are so important,

and we won't give up
till we find them.

- Besides, how hard could it
be to outsmart Team Rocket?

- We'll get those badges
back if we just work together.

- Togepi!

- Pika, Pika!

- Thanks a lot you guys!

- Who's that Pokémon?

It's Steelix!

- Well, we know Woopers
like water.

- Wobbuffet!

- There's one!
That's probably it!

- But I don't see
the badge case.

- Oh, I'm certain
that's the one!

Come here, little thief!

- Wooper!

- I've got you!
- Wooper!

- Ha!
Won't get past me!

- Wooper!

- I missed.

- Wooper!
Wooper!

- Get back here!
- Wooper!

- Stop!
- Wooper!

- Give us back those badges!

- Wobb, Wobb, Wobb, Wobb,
Wobb, Wobb!

- Bayleef.

Noctowl.

Now come on out!

- Bayleef!

- Noctowl!

- I need you two to help!

Spread out and look for
those stolen badges.

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- With any luck,
I'll spot 'em from up here.

- I just hope they haven't
already left the area.

- Togepi!

- Let's start
looking this way.

- Okay.

- [thinking] I've just gotta
get those badges back,

no matter what it takes.

- Noctowl!

- Bayleef!

- Wynaut!

Wy--Wynaut!

Wynaut!
Wy! Wy!

Naut, Naut, Wynaut!

Naut, Naut, Wy, Wy, Wy!

Naut, Naut, Naut!

Wy, Wynaut, Wy, Wy!

- Noctowl!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

- Wy--Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

- Wynaut!

Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

Bayleef!

- Wy! Wynaut! Wy!

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- Wy! Wy! Wy!

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- Bayleef!

- Wy! Wy! Wy!

- Pikachu!

- We've gone pretty far,
Pikachu,

and there's still
no sign of 'em.

They could be
far away by now.

- Noctowl!

- What is it, Noctowl?

- Noctowl!

- All right!
I knew you'd find the badges!

- Pikachu!

- Bayleef!

- Wy!

Wy! Wy!

- Wooper!

- Wynaut!

- Wooper, Wooper!

Wooper!

Wooper.
- Bayleef.

- Here, Wooper!
- You can't get away now!

- Cough up those badges!

- Huh?
- There they are right there!

- So everything's
working out perfectly.

Wooper led us right to them!

- Wobbuffet!

- Bayleef!

- Say, what does the twerp's
Bayleef think it's doing here?

- Hey, you!

Back away from the badges
and get out of here!

- Bayleef!

- Oh, yeah?

Ya wanna become
a Bayleef-salad?

- You're just as blockheaded
as your twerp trainer!

- Wynaut!

- If that's the way you want
it we won't go easy on you!

- Arbok, take out the Bayleef
and get those badges back!

- Arbok!

- Go, Victreebel!

- Victreebel!

- Not me, you vegetable!

Attack the enemy!

- Arbok, Poison Sting Attack!

- Arbok!
- Bayleef!

- Victreebel, Vine Whip now!

- Victreebel!

- Bayleef!

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

- Okay, Arbok!

Finish it off with
Poison Sting now!

- Arbok!
- Bayleef.

- Wynaut!

Wynaut!

- Arbok!

- What?
- Arbok?

- What in the world?

- Arbok!

- Someone tell me
what just happened!

- Was there a random
Counter Attack?

- All I saw was this flash of
blue, and they both went down.

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!

- Wooper!

- At least we got the badges!

- Oh goody, my dreams
can still come true!

- Come to Meowth!

- Drop 'em!
- Huh?

- Give me back my badges!

- Pika, Pika!
- Noctowl!

- Bayleef!

- Ha!

We worked hard stealing
these trinkets!

- So we ain't just
handin' 'em over!

- Arbok, Poison Sting Attack!

- Arbok!

- Look out!
- Pika!

- That's our cue!
- Victreebel!

- Hey!

I'm not lettin' you get away!

[groans]

[laughter]

- If you want them so bad
then come and get them!

- Of course you'd have to
acquire the power of flight!

- Face it, these eight
badges are ours now!

- I suppose you could get
lucky and buy them back

once we put them up
for auction.

- I've told you both before
that they're not for sale,

I'm using them to enter
the Silver Conference.

- You mean to tell us
you were serious?

- Is your wig on too tight?

- Bayleef, I need you
to use your Vine Whip

and throw me up to that
balloon, all right?

- Bayleef!
- Okay, go!

- Bayleef!

- Ahh!

- Are you challenging me?

- Maybe I am!

- Can't we settle this
like honest thieves?

- Give 'em back!
- Huh?

- They're mine, Team Rocket!

- He's flying?
- But, that isn't possible!

- Time to hit the gas!

- Wait!

- Faster, faster, faster!

- Ahh!

- Pikachu!

- Happy landings!
See ya next fall!

- Ahh!

- Noctowl!

- Pika!

- Dragonair, quick!

- Dragonair!

- Hold on!
Are you all right?

- Yeah, but that
was a close one.

- We got to you
just in time!

- Noctowl!

- But they're getting
away with my badges!

- No.

- You think Dragonair can
catch up to that balloon?

- We're about to find out!

- Pikachu!

- Bayleef!
- Pikachu!

- What's that?
I get it.

Pikachu wants to
get the badges back!

Noctowl,
get Pikachu to the balloon.

- Noctowl!

- Pikachu!

- Noctowl!
- Pika, Pika!

- Now we've got Pikachu
and Noctowl coming after us!

- This is annoying.

Don't they know
when they're beaten?

- Hit the gas, Meowth,
and get us out of here!

- It won't go no faster.
It's on full blast already.

- What?

- Pikachu!
- Noctowl!

- I told you
you wouldn't get away with it!

Pikachu, Thunderbolt!

- Pika!

Pikachu!

- Looks like Team Rocket's
blasting off again!

- Pikachu!
- My badges!

- Dragonair!

- Oh!
- Oh!

- Pikachu!
- Noctowl!

- Bayleef!

- Thanks guys.

I think I got
all my badges back.

Let me count 'em.

- One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven--

[groans]

I've only got seven
of my badges here!

I'm missing my Rising badge!
- What?

Let's look for it!

- Here, Rising badge,
hey, Rising badge!

- Pika, Pika!

- They all fell
right in this area.

- Bayleef!

- Noctowl!

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- Wynaut!

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

- Bayleef!

- Huh?
What is it, Bayleef?

Hey, you found my Rising badge!

Thank you.
Was it right here on the ground?

- Bayleef!

- Noctowl!
- Bayleef!

- Is there somethin'
there in those bushes?

What are you two lookin' at?

Well, you guys must be
imagining things,

'cause there's nothing
in here.

- Bayleef!
- Noctowl!

[horn blaring]

- Noctowl!
- Bayleef!

- Wynaut!
Wynaut!

- Noctowl!
- Bayleef!

- Was there really something
in here?

- Wynaut!
Wynaut!

- Did you find it Ash?

- Obviously not, since he's
still beatin' around the bushes.

- No, I did!

Or, I should really say,
Bayleef and Noctowl found it

and gave it to me.

- So you finally have all
your badges back again, right?

- Togepi!

- That's terrific news, Ash.

- No kidding, glad we
finally got that problem solved.

Now we can have some lunch!

- Pikachu!

- What's that?

I thought I just
heard you say you had

all eight of your badges.

- Yep, that's right, Professor.

- Wow, amazing Ash,
I'm very impressed

at how fast
you've accomplished this feat!

- Thanks to you, Professor,
so I'll let you touch

the Victor's cup when
I bring it home!

- I don't doubt it.

You command almost as much
respect from your Pokémon as I.

Ahh, you're crushing my spleen!

- Uh...

- Pikachu!

- [singing]
I'm on a Master Quest

Pokémon

I'm on a Master Quest

Pokémon

- Follow this road.
It'll take you to the sea.

Then take the coastline
and you'll hit New Bark Town

in a day or so.

- Thank you for all your help,
Claire.

- It was really
nice meeting you.

- I can't believe
it's time for us to part.

After all that
we've been through together,

I feel so close to you now!

- Oh--

- Oh, put a sock in it, Brock.

Time for you to feel
close to the road.

- Togepi!

- So, we're off on our
way to New Bark Town!

- Pikachu!

- Hope to see ya again!

- Good luck in
the Silver Conference, Ash!

And be careful out there, guys!

- Thanks Claire.
- Bye!

- We will!
- Goodbye!

- Bye, Misty!
- Bye!

- Bye, Brock!
- Bye!

- We'll meet again, don't worry!

male narrator:
With sheer determination,

Ash reclaims the eight badges
that were taken from him.

Now he and his friends make
their way toward New Bark Town,

where Ash will
finally register

for the Johto League
Silver Conference!

[singing]
- There's no time

To question my moves

I stick to the path
that I choose

Me and my friends
are gonna do it right

To be a Master is my dream

All I've got to do is believe

And I believe

I'm on a Master Quest

Master Quest

I want the whole world to see

And I believe

I'm gonna be the very best

'Cause all I've got to do

Is believe in me

- Pokémon