Pokémon · Season 5
So the twerps have a little lunch by the lake, huh?
Yeah, and while they’re munchin’ lunch, we’ll pinch Pikachu, right, Jess?
[Jessie, however, is eating a sandwich]
Hey, who said it was lunch time?
Yeah, where’s ours?
[with a mouth full] It’s all gone.
Well, did you guys hear that?
I heard king, and king means jewels!
And jewels mean dough! LOTS OF DOUGH!
We may have missed our chance to grab the King’s Rock, but catching that Slowking would sure put a jewel in our crown.
Yes, a Pokémon fit for a king.
Or fit for a boss is how I see it.
Sweet!
Lovely! But I'm sure this Weepinbell could eek out a little more. Excuse me, James! We could use some of your help here!
Well, they could be have gotten too far away.
We gotta get those spire plugs back and present them to the boss!
I wonder. Will the boss like them?
Of course! That Elekid's gonna be a regular harden to boss' morning routine. Like runnin' his electric raise up for instance. And he's gonna say, "It's the best shave I ever had!" Then he'll use his hand dryer into the perfect load dry.
It could just plug the in.
But this way is cheaper.
And Larvitar?
The boss is always saying that he can't find any good help these days. But with Larvitar being the help those days he'll be done. And when he sees the look of sincere save it to in Larvitar on his eyes, he'll say, "Larvitar, your are in a way this in a see of loses."
You think so?
Now, stop dreaming about it and actually do it!
You've win those callous claws of yours! What else you'll be trailed this never would've happen! Thanks, your advice is newted, but it's attached too late. Wobbuffet! Aah! Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!
Since their arrival in Silver Town, our heroes have been spending time at the Pokémon Center, finishing up final details before Ash can begin competing in the Silver Conference.
[exiting the Pokémon Center] Glad that's out of the way. Are you ready for some battling, Pikachu?
Pika, Pika!
Not so fast, Ash...
Huh?
Have you even looked at the Guide Book yet?
Pi?
Uh, not really...
Huh? [They notice a rather familiar person in front of Ash, and who else would it be than his rival, Gary Oak?]
Old habits die hard, eh, Ashy Boy?
Gary!
Yeah, long time no see, huh?
I know! So are you gonna battle in the Silver Conference too?
Yep! I dotted every I and crossed every T and figured out which Pokémon I'm using, so now I'm just chilling out!
Wow! You not only finished all your paperwork, but you picked out all your Pokémon as well?
That's great, Gary!
Thanks, guys. This conference means a lot to me. It's Numero Uno or bust!
Then you better prepare for a bust, because I'm gonna battle you and I'm gonna beat you!
Pika!
Heheheheh! Still got that naïve enthusiasm, I see! [obviously, this riles up Ash and Pikachu]
Oh, really?!
Just because you got lucky at the Indigo Plateau doesn't mean a hill of beans! [He starts to walk toward the Pokémon Center.]
I'm setting you straight this go-round, no doubt about it!
Wow. He's sure feeling pretty confident...
Toge...
I don't care! I'm putting him in his place once and for all!
[agitated] Pika, Pika!
[As Ash and friends look for the Athlete's Village, they reunite with President Charles Goodshow, who also oversaw the Indigo League and is giving out balloons to children.]
Mr. Goodshow!
Hm? It's Ash, Brock, and Misty!
Hey, how've you been?
Why are you here giving out balloons, Mr. Goodshow?
You see, as president of the Pokémon League Torch Committee, one of my jobs is to greet the fans! And what better way than with balloons, huh?!
[He scratches his beard.]
[laughing] Yes, very clever!
Everyone loves balloons!
Say, Ash, it's been a long time since I've seen you! So, I'll bet you came here to compete in the Silver Conference, that right?
Right!
Great, great! Promise me you'll get out there and show 'em what a real battle is all about, 'kay, Ash?
You got it, Mr. Goodshow!
[cheerfully] Pika, Pika!
[After Ash handily defeated all three opponents in the preliminary Trainer Screening, he, Brock, and Misty are watching the monitor to see the 48 Trainers who advanced.]
[amidst the overlapping chatter] I look pretty good! Hahaha!
Wow!
So these are the Trainers who can move on to the semifinals, huh?
[noticing their good friend Harrison's picture] Oh! There's Harrison! He got through the screening!
[chuckles]
I'm so happy for him!
Togeprrri! Toge?
[noticing Gary's picture] Ohh!
There's Gary, too!
Yeah, and what about me? [he sees himself on the screen.] Ah!
Pika!
Alright!
Pika!
Misty You're right in there with Gary! That's great!
Yeah, for now, 'til I blow past him to the victory!
Pika, Pika!
Maybe...
Huh?
Toge?
I wonder, will it all go that easily?
Mr. Goodshow?
What exactly do you mean by that?
I mean, just getting through the semifinals is a tall order in itself! The Silver Conference semifinals are fought between three members of each block, and the trainer who comes out with the most Victory Points from those battles can participate in the Victory Tournament in the finals! Only sixteen participants who make their way through the semifinals will be able to compete in that Victory Tournament!
Wow, I guess it is a pretty long road before you get to that final tournament, isn't it?
Yeah, and a pretty rough road, too.
That's what I'm telling ya! So! Good luck!!
Pika!
But all that stuff you're sayin' just makes me wanna win it that much more! Wanna hear my plan? We win, and then we win... and then we win some more!
Pika, Pika!
[A restless Ash and Pikachu are seen in his hotel room bed in the Athlete's Village, with the former appearing pretty anxious.]
Urgh... it's no use! I just can't get to sleep!
Pika?
Uh, sorry Pikachu. Did I wake you?
[shaking his head] Pika, Pikachu. Pikachu!
[Ash and Pikachu then take a walk to clear his mind from the tension about the semifinals.]
You know, the semifinals start up tomorrow after the opening ceremonies, Pikachu, and there's gonna be a lot of really strong Trainers wanting to win, just like us! I'm sure glad that we're a team.
Pika!
[As they walk, the silhouette of Gary can be seen staring across the lake, also seeming to clear his head and eliminate his worries.]
It'll just be us against a lot of really strong Trainers! Who's that?
Huh? Hey, Ash. Can't you sleep?
[nervously] Pikachu and I were just out for some... fresh air, that's all.
Pika.
[The three sit together on a tree stump looking outward in a moment of reflection.]
So, Gary, guess you couldn't sleep either, right?
Okay. Mmm... you got me this time, buddy.
Well then, that makes two of us.
[Ash and Gary look up at the full moon illuminating their surroundings.]
Boy, talk about a full moon!
Awesome!
That same kind of moon was out the first night after I left Pallet Town. 'Member?
No, not really...
That was the same day you came to Professor Oak's laboratory, and you were acting weird 'cause you were late, 'member?
Do you have to bring that up?
And the only Pokémon left was a feisty little Pikachu that wouldn't do anything it was told to do!
Piiika?
And now, look what's happened! That Pikachu has become your best buddy and your best Pokémon!
Pi?
Uhh... well, you're right about that one, Gary.
Pikachu!
I wonder... if you hadn't come late that day, or if... say, I hadn't watching a big moon like this that night, we might've ended up in two different parts of the world tonight, doing completely different things, having completely different hopes and dreams, and who knows what dreams? And there's so many more dreams we haven't even thought of!
[taken about by this rather unexpected reflective side of his rival] Hey, Gary, you okay? I mean, why are you thinking about all this stuff?
[standing up] No reason. I was just thinking that there are all kinds of possibilities waiting for the two of us out there in the future. But that doesn't change the present, Ashy! I'm gonna beat anyone who gets in my way of first place, and that includes you!
Ah... [smiling] Okay, now you sound more like Gary, which can mean only one thing. [He grunts as he also stands up] Means you better get used to that number two spot, 'cause I'm gonna be Numero Uno, even if we are friends!
Pikachu!
[The two just stand there looking at each other as the night turns into day.]
Ladies and gentlemen, I've just been informed that there seems to be a bit of confusion as to the exact whereabouts of our torch runner. [He gasps.] This just in: it appears that an unfortunate accident has left our torch runner unable to continue! [This, of course, was courtesy of Team Rocket, who, in another failed attempt to capture Pikachu, caused the runner to sprain his ankle.]
[The crowd can quietly be heard chattering in confusion.]
Now what?!
Toge!
They've got to use the Sacred Flame!
Toge! Toge, Toge!
Togepi?
Pika!
Huh?!
Pika!
[A silhouette of a boy and his Pikachu bearing the torch is revealed to be none other than Ash Ketchum, who was privileged with the role after he and Gary negotiated, seemingly with Mr. Goodshow or another official.]
Look!
Hey, it's Ash!
Toge!
Delia [who is watching from home with Mimey] Oh!
Mime!
Carrying the torch is Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!
Ohh!
My stars! Now, how did Ash get that torch?!
The Sacred Ho-Oh Flame, from the same Legendary Pokémon that was said to have quelled the battle...
Ah...!
...restoring life to the plains and forests, is now being carried onto the Silver Stadium platform!
[Mr. Goodshow chuckles to himself and stands up as Ash is positioned to light the Sacred Flame.]
[With Mr. Goodshow, Gary and the injured runner, the rest of the semifinals competitors watching, and the crowd watching, Ash turns to the cauldron and lights it with the torch, causing the Sacred Flame to burn brightly in the night sky. The crowd erupts.]
Toge, Toge, Togeprrri!
Yayyy! Hahaha!
[Mr. Goodshow walks up to the podium and clears his throat as he prepares to address the Trainers.]
Mr. Goodshow: Skillful and excited participants! Now that the Ho-Oh Sacred Flame is watching over all of you, battle with honesty, integrity, and honor, so that you will never regret a single moment of your time here!
[The crowd cheers as the camera shows Gary and Harrison standing beside each other, and Ash and Pikachu looking at each other.]
With Ash and Gary's help, the Sacred Ho-Oh Flame burns proudly into the sky, marking the opening of the Johto League Silver Conference! Could this turn of events be a hint of great things to come? Stay tuned!
[The "TO BE CONTINUED" text appears in the bottom right corner.]
[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!
Okay, so a win is three points... ah, who cares?! I'll just win 'em all and go to the Victory Tournament!
Pikachu!
[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.]
[panicked] Nurse Joy, my Kingler is--
Your Kingler will be just fine, but I'm afraid there'll be no battling today.
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!
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!
Is that Squirtle...? It is! I can't believe it!
Pika, Pika!
Hey there, buddy! How've you been?
Squirtle, Squirtle!
Pikachu!
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!
What?
[Dragging Brock off by his ear] Enough! Love is blind, but you're annoying.
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!
The perfect time, too!
Hey Ash, you could hurry and change your entry!
Yeah! Squirtle, that okay?
[Giving a thumbs-up] Squirt! Squirtle-squirt!
Both of Ash's Pokémon are Water types, and they're totally weak against Fire type! [Pretty sure you meant to say Electric type to refer to Macey's Electabuzz, Brock...]
[After Ash's Squirtle was knocked to its shell by Macey's Quilava's Quick Attack]
What's this? It appears Squirtle has fallen on its back and can't get up! [Of course, this is a reference to the infamous line "I've fallen and I can't get up!" from LifeAlert commercials.]
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Pokémon pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
