EP026

Pokémon Scent-sation!

File:PokemonScentsation.gif.png

EP026

エリカとクサイハナ
Erika and Kusaihana

First broadcast

Japan	September 23, 1997
United States	October 12, 1998

English themes

Opening	Pokémon Theme
Ending

Japanese themes

Opening	めざせポケモンマスター
Ending	ひゃくごじゅういち

Credits

Additional credits
Animation	Team Ota
Screenplay	園田英樹 Hideki Sonoda
Storyboard	井硲清高 Kiyotaka Itani
Assistant director	井硲清高 Kiyotaka Itani
Animation director	志村隆行 Takayuki Shimura

Pokémon Scent-sation! (Japanese: エリカとクサイハナ Erika and Kusaihana) is the 26th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on September 23, 1997 and in the United States on October 12, 1998.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

Ash, Misty and Brock have finally made it to Celadon City. Immediately, the scent of perfume fills the air. It leads them to a perfume shop, where Misty and Pikachu smell their products and Brock falls for the women inside. Ash, eager to earn his next badge, complains that the perfume smells terrible and that it's very expensive. Immediately he is kicked out of the store, and heads to the Gym. However, when he gets there, he learns that the same people who work at the perfume shop also work at the gym, and it is also where the perfume is manufactured. As a result, he is not even allowed entry into the gym.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket attempts to break into the gym and steal their Pokémon. Unfortunately for them, their plans fall through when they encounter a Gloom. All pass out because of the Pokémon's terrible scent, and when the gym employees find them, they hang them up on trees outside the gym. Ash stumbles across them, and agrees to a plan they come up with so he can get into the gym. With the help of Team Rocket, Ash becomes Ashley after a makeover. Using a rouse of Ashley enrolling in a program at the gym, the young trainer is allowed access, while Team Rocket follows through on their plan to steal the perfume without anyone realizing it.

Still disguised as Ashley, Ash finds his way into the main gym area, where he sees Misty, Brock and Pikachu being read to by Erika. When Ash realizes that Erika is also the manager of the perfume shop, he puts his head down and begins acting quietly. But when Misty begins to question if she knows Ash, he begins to get nervous. Then Pikachu runs up to him to give him a hug. Ash tells him to knock it off. Angered, Pikachu shocks Ash, causing his disguise to fall apart. When Erika realizes who he is, Ash explains the only reason he disguised himself was to get into the gym, and promptly challenges her to a battle.

In the meantime, Team Rocket has finally reached a safe they believe holds the perfume. After opening it, they find a bottle and grab it. They then begin to make their way out of the gym, their prize in their hands.

Back at the battlefield, Erika accepts Ash's challenge, saying she's required to under Pokémon League regulations. She explains that the battle will be three-on-three, to which Ash explains he will use his own Template:Type2 Pokémon, and sends out Bulbasaur. Erika then sends out Tangela, which Ash scans with his PokéDex. Not satisfied with its information, Ash tells Bulbasaur to use Vine Whip. Erika commands Tangela to use Constrict, followed by Stun Spore. Now paralyzed, Ash recalls Bulbasaur. Erika, felling sorry, offers Ash some Parlyz Heal, which he objects to.

He then says he'll use Primeape, but recalling how it behaved after he caught it, he decides against it, and sends out Charmander. Confident in her abilities to defeat even a Template:Type2, Erika sends out Weepinbell, and tells it to use Razor Leaf. Thinking fast, Ash has Charmander use Flamethrower, followed by Skull Bash, which knock out Weepinbell. Erika congratulates Ash on his victory so far, but says that because he doesn't have empathy with his Pokémon, he will never win. She then proceeds to send out Gloom, and immediately it uses its foul odor to knock out Charmander. At a standstill, Ash is shocked when Pikachu comes up and immediately offers to battle Gloom. Ash is so happy that his friend is willing to battle, but before it can begin, Team Rocket appears and reveals the real reason they wanted to get into the gym; to steal the perfume. As their bomb goes off, Team Rocket blasts off, and the gym begins burning.

Immediately, the gym is evacuated, and Ash, Misty and Brock use their Pokémon to help fight the fire. Suddenly, Erika appears, saying she can't find Gloom. Realizing its probably still inside, Ash immediately runs back in to save it. When he finds Gloom, it emits its foul odor, but Ash realizes he must save it. He holds his breath and walks up to it. When he takes in air again, he realizes there's no smell. He then remembers Erika saying Gloom won't use its smell if it trusts someone. He carries Gloom out, and Erika is very grateful.

The next day, she gives Ash the Rainbow Badge. He asks what it's for, and Erika says that he earned it, even though the battle was not completed. Although Ash is happy, he is still concerned about the perfume being stolen. Erika smiles and says not to worry, because Team Rocket only stole one ingredient; essence of Gloom.

Now with his fifth badge, Ash and the others proceed to the next town.