Scenes with Ash Ketchum 612
[Explaining the semifinals format, a format that can be compared to the group stage of the FIFA World Cup]
The semifinals will be a round robin tournament between all three trainers.
[The screen changes to show a visual of a scoreboard with Mr. Goodshow, Brock, and Misty. With Mr. Goodshow having won against Misty, he has 3 Victory Points while Misty has none.]
A win is three points, a loss is zero points, and a draw is one point for each.
[The completed scoreboard shows Mr. Goodshow having drawn against Brock to finish four points, Misty with three points with a win against Brock, and Brock with one in a draw against Mr. Goodshow and a loss against Misty. Thus, Mr. Goodshow advances.]
Whoever ends up with the most points moves on to the Victory Tournament!
AAsh
Okay, so a win is three points... ah, who cares?! I'll just win 'em all and go to the Victory Tournament!
[Ash's Kingler, who he had great faith in to perform well against his Fire-type-using opponent, Macey, has just been knocked out by the Thunder Shock of three Voltorb that a man dropped down a hill, which might have caused injuries or deaths if Kingler wasn't there. It now sits a healing table in the Pokémon Center with Ash & friends and Nurse Joy.]
AAsh
[panicked] Nurse Joy, my Kingler is--
Your Kingler will be just fine, but I'm afraid there'll be no battling today.
AAsh
Ohh... that's just great. [He sits down on a bench outside and sulks.] Now what am I gonna do...?
I guess you're gonna have to make do with Totodile, Ash. It's your only Water Pokémon.
[The sound of a motorcycle revving is heard, which catches the attention of the gang, especially when it's revealed that the motorcycle is Officer Jenny's!]
Hello, Ash! Hello Misty and Brock!
ABAsh, Brock and Misty
Officer Jenny?!
[Jenny's motorcycle screeches to a stop, a Pokémon jumps out, and how convenient is it that it's Ash's Squirtle, wearing his trademark glasses from the Squirtle Squad?]
Squirtle! Squirtle, Squirtle!
AAsh
Is that Squirtle...? It is! I can't believe it!
AAsh
Hey there, buddy! How've you been?
But how on Earth did Ash's Squirtle get HERE?
When Squirtle saw Ash running at the opening ceremonies, there was no stopping it!
[Brock, as usual, falls for Jenny, being the hopeless romantic he is...]
Every time I see your face, there's just no stopping me!
[Dragging Brock off by his ear] Enough! Love is blind, but you're annoying.
AAsh
This is great, but what about all it's firefighting work with the Squirtle Squad?
The Squirtle Squad has grown so much, they said that your Squirtle could take a little time off, Ash!
AAsh
The perfect time, too!
Hey Ash, you could hurry and change your entry!
AAsh
Yeah! Squirtle, that okay?
[Giving a thumbs-up] Squirt! Squirtle-squirt!
[Ash, Brock and Misty are in the Silver Town Pokémon Center awaiting Ash's pairing for his first match in the Johto League Silver Conference Victory Tournament after tying with Jackson to advance.]
Hey, guys! The pairings for the Finals Tournament just went up!
Well, that doesn't surprise me!
[The giant monitor shows Harrison being paired up against an unknown boy for his first match.]
AAsh
Let's see, where am I...?
[The camera pans over to the right, where Ash is shown versus... his biggest rival, Gary?!]
[The camera zooms in on their top halves.]
[Brock and Misty both gasp.]
ABAsh, Brock and Misty
[turning toward Gary] Huh?
Your Silver Conference experience is going to be a short one! I hope you had fun.
[with more enthusiasm and urgency than usual] So, the day has finally come when these two rivals must clash head-to-head, with the championship on the line! [although Ash would have a long way to go to get there if he wins]
Will Ash emerge victorious, or will Gary's prediction come true?!
[A blazing fire appears in the background of the rivals in a standoff before the "TO BE CONTINUED" text appears in the bottom left corner.]
[Ash, Brock, Misty, Pikachu, and Togepi are eating breakfast after a sleepless Ash became agitated over which Pokémon to use against Gary.]
So, what type of Pokémon does Gary have the most of?
[munching on a sandwich] Toge!
Brock Gary's got all kinds. He doesn't really favor one type!
All different types?! He really is a chip off the old Oak block!
Not only that, they're all first class and in tiptop shape, so he must've rotated them a lot!
AAsh
He did. He's been that way for as long as I've known the guy.
And since he doesn't prefer one particular Pokémon over another, it'll be a different story than battling someone like Misty with all one type, so putting your team together is crucial.
[An anxious Ash looks up towards the sky, where large wings can be seen as a cloud reveals them.]
AAsh
Huh? [The wings are revealed to belong to Ash's ace, Charizard!] Hey, look guys!
[Charizard roars.]
AAsh
[dancing for joy] It's Charizard!! [He laughs in triumph, but then groans as he is greeted as usual by Charizard's Flamethrower, being turned into soot and falling over, but because Ash is Ash, he survives anyway.]
Uh-huh. I made a phone call to Liza late last night.
AAsh
Am I glad to see you! Thanks! You sure came at a great time!
[Charizard roars happily]
AAsh
Huh? [Gary appears to greet him right before the match, leading them to begin a stare-off.]
[The two just look at each other for a few moments before greeting each other.]
AAsh
[begrudgingly] Good morning.
[The staring contest intensifies, until a cheerful Professor Oak shows up who previously watched Ash's matches on TV.]
AAsh
Waah! Professor Oak!
Rivals, now they meet, / Gary, Ash to compete.
AAsh
Professor, thank you! Thank you!
It is the Victory Tournament! I just had to see it live!
My, my, my! You two will be facing off, eh?
Well, lighten up and relax, you two. If you both keep acting this tense, by tomorrow, you won't even be able to compete!
[smiling] Guess you're right.
[Just before Ash, Brock, and Misty leave to choose Ash's Pokémon for the fight against Gary, Delia and Ash share a final exchange.]
I just wanted you to know that I think you're a wonderful Pokémon Trainer, and I'm proud of all your hard work and training! I'm sure you'll make me the proudest mom there could be.
AAsh
[Nodding] Mm. I'll do my best!
Ah... Rivals for so long, and now they battle each other at the Victory Tournament!
This will be a match to remember.
[Pikachu, Togepi, Psyduck and Politoed are cheering on Ash as Misty and Brock sit in anticipation for the battle to begin.]
AAnnouncer
The second match in this first round will be a battle between two trainers of the same age and from the same hometown: Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and Gary Oak, also from Pallet Town!
GSGary's Cheerleaders
Gary, Gary, he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can! Gary!
Oh, good. Gary's cheerleading team is back.
[completely smitten, because why not] And not a moment too soon! What a smorgasbord of beauty!
[Misty reacts unamused to this, of course.]
AAnnouncer
Gary is the grandson of well-known Pokémon expert Professor Oak!
[Oak notices the camera and clearly does not want to be seen. Delia, however, throws up a peace sign with a wide smile on her face.]
And Ash has earned himself quite a reputation as well by achieving the best 16 at the Indigo Plateau! [Who knows how far he would've gone if Charizard didn't have obedience issues...]
Folks, it would not be understatement to say this will be one of the finest matches you'll see anywhere! Fasten your seatbelts; this battle is about to begin! Let's see what battlefield they'll be fighting on!
[The wheel flashes through the four battlefields a few times before stopping on the rock battlefield.]
And it's a rock field!
[The crowd chatters in awe as the plain battlefield covering opens to bring up a very rocky battlefield, which will make for lots of strategic plays.]
AAnnouncer
It's time to decide who takes the first move!
SSpectator
Go, Gary! I went to school with Gary, you know.
[The wheel alternates between green, Ash's side, and red, signifying Gary, who are portrayed to the viewer as the good and evil side, respectively, before stopping on a red wedge, giving Gary the opening move.]
AAnnouncer
And the first move goes to Gary Oak! What Pokémon will he use first?
I figured Gary would start out in a big way!
AAsh
That's just fine with me! Go, Tauros!
AAnnouncer
Gary has chosen to start out with his Nidoqueen, and Ash with Tauros!
[Ash's Heracross has just knocked out Gary's Magmar, leaving both trainers with one Pokémon down.]
I guess it's time to show 'em my best! Deal with this, Ashy Boy! Mwah! [he kisses the Poké Ball, which must mean this Pokémon means quite a lot to him...] Blastoise! I choose you!
AAnnouncer
Gary's choice for third Pokémon is Blastoise!
The same Squirtle that Gary originally received from Professor Oak? Yeah, that's the one.
It looks like Gary is anxious to finish this up here and now! Blastoise IS the most powerful Pokémon Gary has.
[Ash and Misty's Pokémon amp up their cheering, knowing of Blastoise's threat to Ash's path to victory over his rival.]
AAsh
Okay, Heracross! Use Fury Swipes!
HHeracross
[charging] Heracross!
BBlastoise
Blas...toise! [A powerful Hydro Pump is fired from its cannons, and a shot of the two Pokémon and their Trainers clashing is shown as the episode draws to a conclusion.]
There have been plenty of turnovers in this match already, so the ultimate victor is anyone's guess! But to find out the winner, stay tuned!
[The "TO BE CONTINUED" text appears.]
[Gary's Blastoise has knocked out Ash's Bayleef, leaving him with three Pokémon left while his rival still has five.]
AAsh
Gary is pretty impressive... but so are we!
AAnnouncer
Ladies and gentlemen, we'll take a five-minute intermission here, giving Ash time to regroup after losing three of his Pokémon.
[pleading] Pika-pi! Pikachu, Pikachu!
AAsh
Hey, Pikachu, what is it?
Ash, I think it's asking if it can battle!
Well, it makes sense. Gary IS using a Water Pokémon.
AAsh
I wish I could, buddy, but I'm only allowed to use the Pokémon I registered before the match.
[in protest] Pika!! [He crosses his arms.]
Those two battling so fiercely has got my stomach in knots!
Gary was always the confident one taking the lead with Ash right behind, struggling to keep up with him!
He may not admit it, but I think that Gary considers Ash his most important friend of all.
I think Ash feels the same way!
[A buzzer sounds, signaling the end of the intermission.]
You've made it this far, Ashy Boy. And that'll be far enough! Blastoise, go!
AAnnouncer
And, now for the final battle, Gary brings back his Blastoise, and Ash will be staying with Charizard. Blastoise appears to have an overwhelming advantage based on Pokémon type, but this match isn't over just yet, folks! Believe me!
AAsh
[in his thoughts] Advantage? Who cares. We made it this far, right, and we're going all the way!
[At night, after Ash's victory over Gary, his rival is seen standing at the same pond they reflected at before the Johto League began.]
Hey, Ash. Thanks for coming to see me.
AAsh
No problem. So what's up, Gary?
[Gary reaches into his pocket and pulls out the red half of a Poké Ball they broke in a fishing argument with Ash, who considered it a draw, while Gary considered it a loss for Ash.]
Here, take it. It belongs to you; you earned it. Really, I mean it!
That battle today of ours was awesome! I don't even feel bad that I lost! You see, Ash, when we tied long ago, I felt like a failure.
[Ash is dumbstruck at this new admission over their argument, meaning he does regret being so in Ash's face over it.]
But today, you totally beat me fair and square, get it?
AAsh
I guess... You know, I feel like I got a whole lot stronger by battling with you today!
Me too. I'll cheer for you in your second match.
[They shake hands.]
[Ash and Pikachu are sitting on a tree, depressed that their longtime travel partners Brock and Misty have now left them for new ambitions.]
AAsh
Everyone's gone, Pikachu...
[Pikachu looks up, appearing to notice something.]
AAsh
Not sure I like being alone...
[A trail of sparkles moves through the clouds.]
[The sparkles are revealed to belong to the Legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, who Ash and Pikachu saw on that fateful day they first began their journey.]
[Ash and Pikachu watch as Ho-Oh flies away.]
AAsh
I know where it's headed. It's headed to the Hoenn Region. That's where all those Pokémon I've never seen before are. And all those battles that I'm destined to fight in.
[After a long boat ride, we can finally see Littleroot Town, where Ash will soon begin his journey through the Hoenn region.]
AAsh
Finally, the Hoenn region! Lots of new Pokémon for me to catch, and lots of new rivals for me to battle against!
Still on his quest to become a Pokémon Master, Ash has finally arrived in the Hoenn region, where a brand new journey and many exciting new adventures await!
[Ash stares in anticipation of his newest adventure.]
[Final lines. As the boat inches closer to its landing spot in Hoenn, we see new Pokémon native to the region, including Wingull, Pelipper, Sharpedo, and Wailmer.]
AAsh
Wow, awesome! I've never seen any of these Pokémon! I can't wait for Pikachu to wake up and check out all of these cool new Pokémon with me too! [Ash runs back inside to wake his best buddy up. However, Pikachu is breathing rather heavily...]
Pikachu! Pikachu, wake up! You gotta see this! We're in the Hoenn region, and--
[Ash reaches out his hands to wake up Pikachu, but its cheek sparks electricity, causing Ash to recoil.]
Uh!
[struggling and sparking electricity] Pika... Pika...
[Pikachu has become sick from its earlier encounter with Team Rocket, where the evil trio used a giant electromagnetic device that absorbed its energy.]
AAsh
[bending down to Pikachu's level] Pikachu! What's wrong! Are you okay? [Pikachu's electricity causes Ash's hand to recoil again.] You're burning up! You must have a bad fever!
AAsh
Pikachu! Hey, can you hear me, buddy? Pikachu...!
[The text "NEXT TIME... A NEW BEGINNING!" appears, ending the original series on a cliffhanger.]
[After Azurill breaks free from May's Poke Ball]
AAsh
Well, you're not going to catch anything that way.
Why not? I threw an empty Poke Ball at it, didn't I?
AAsh
First, you have to battle the Pokemon and weaken it, then you throw your Pokeball.
[Ash, Max and May are having lunch, only to realize they don't have any food]
[in Ash's backpack, Pikachu finds his empty can of Pokémon food]
You're one professional traveler, Ash. I'm surprised you'd forget something like our food.
AAsh
[shocked] All right, guess I messed up.