EP131: Difference between revisions

'''Fighting Flyer with Fire''' (Japanese: '''キキョウジム！おおぞらのたたかい！！''' ''{{tt|Kikyō|Violet}} Gym! Sky Battle!!'') is the 131st episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It was first broadcast in Japan on January 20, 2000 and in the United States on December 16, 2000.

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{{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, and {{an|Brock}} finally reach the [[Violet City]] Gym, and Ash is anxious to get his first [[Johto]] [[Badge]]. But before they are able to go inside, [[Jessie]] and [[James]] appear in disguises. They say they are from the Pokémon Bureau and that they must inspect every {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} before anyone can enter the Gym. They take {{AP|Pikachu}} and remark that his "buggy, bleary eyed, and blubbery". Then they run off with him. Soon afterwards, they're floating away in their balloon while revealing their real identity and holding Pikachu in an electric-proof glass case.

Ash sends out {{AP|Heracross}} to save Pikachu, but {{MTR}} drops a jar of sap to distract Heracross. Then, Ash and friends notice there is someone hang-gliding next to {{TRT}}'s [[Team Rocket's mechas|balloon]]. Then, the hang-glider signals for his {{p|Hoothoot}} to take Pikachu. While the hang-glider is trying to land, Jessie calls for {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} to use {{m|Poison Sting}} to poke holes in his sail. Next the hang-glider sends out his {{p|Pidgeot}} to save him from falling. Then he has his Pidgeot poke a hole in their balloon to send them flying away.

After Team Rocket has blasted off, the hang-glider finally lands and gives Pikachu back to Ash. Misty remarks about how fast his Pidgeot is, and Ash is reminded of his own {{AP|Pidgeot}} and that one day he'll see it again. The hang-glider mentions about how much he loves riding on {{t|Flying}} Pokémon and that they are his favorite type. Brock asks why he loves them so much, to which he responds that it's because he's always wanted to fly through the sky since he was a little boy. Then he says he learned how to hang-glide in order to understand his Pokémon better. He also mentions how mad he gets when people always say that Flying Pokémon stand no chance against {{t|Electric}} Pokémon. Misty quickly agrees with him, but instead with the sense of {{t|Water}} Pokémon. Finally, Ash introduces himself, and the hang-glider introduces himself as [[Falkner]], the Violet City Gym Leader.

Once, they are inside the Gym, they go up to the roof where there is a stadium set up for Ash and Falkner to battle. They are told that they can use three Pokémon each. Once the match begins, Falkner starts with Hoothoot, and Ash decides to start with {{AP|Chikorita}}. Falkner scolds Ash for sending out a Pokémon that is weak to Flying Pokémon. Ash defends himself by saying that not everyone should judge by type. Chikorita starts out with a {{m|Vine Whip}}, but Hoothoot dodges it by {{m|Fly}}ing into the sky. Chikorita still tries hitting Hoothoot with a Vine Whip, but Hoothoot still dodges and attacks Chikorita with {{m|Peck}}. Chikorita uses {{m|Razor Leaf}}, but Hoothoot dodges and takes down Chikorita with {{m|Tackle}}.

Ash decides to use Pikachu next. Pikachu uses {{m|Agility}} in order to avoid getting tackled. Hoothoot is taken down by a {{m|Thunderbolt}} and finished off by a {{m|Quick Attack}}. Falkner then sends out his {{p|Dodrio}} and mentions that no challenger has ever defeated it. Both Pikachu and Dodrio start off the match by using Agility. Although Pikachu tries using Thunderbolt, Dodrio dodges it by jumping up high. Dodrio then attacks Pikachu with {{m|Fury Attack}} and {{m|Drill Peck}}. While Dodrio is using {{m|Tri Attack}}, Pikachu dodges and takes it down with {{m|Thunder}}. Dodrio is cheered on to get up, but it ultimately faints.

Falkner sends out his last Pokémon, which is Pidgeot. Pikachu is really tired by now, and Ash is told by Misty and Brock to give him a rest. Ash asks Pikachu if he wants to take a break, but Pikachu is willing to fight. Pikachu starts it off with a Thunderbolt, but Pidgeot easily dodges it by flying. Pidgeot then takes down Pikachu with a {{m|Whirlwind}}. Ash then sends out {{AP|Charizard}} to battle. Both Charizard and Pidgeot are told to fly into the air, then Ash tells Charizard to use {{m|Flamethrower}}, but Pidgeot dodges. Charizard consistently uses Flamethrower and Pidgeot uses Agility to get out of the way. Pidgeot then sends out a Whirlwind to hit Charizard with its own Flamethrower, sending it back onto the ground. Pidgeot starts using a {{m|Wing Attack}}, and Ash commands Charizard to fly, but its wing is hurt. Charizard is hit straight on by Pidgeot's Wing Attack. Charizard is also hit with a Quick Attack, which leaves Ash wondering what he should do. Falkner tells him to forfeit, but Ash refuses to.

Charizard soon becomes strong enough to fly and dodges a Quick Attack. Pidgeot starts using Agility to appear behind Charizard and attack it with Quick Attack. This happens again, but Charizard doesn't give up. Charizard then flies behind Pidgeot, and when Pidgeot disappears and then reappears behind Charizard, Charizard turns around and surrounds it with {{m|Fire Spin}}. Charizard then finishes off Pidgeot by using {{m|Seismic Toss}}. Although Pidgeot is cheered on to get up, it faints, which means that Ash has won the match against Falkner.

Falkner presents Ash with the {{Badge|Zephyr}}. Falkner has been inspired by Ash to work more and train harder. He also wishes Ash luck in the Johto League. Ash, Misty and Brock wave goodbye as they walk to the next Gym in the next city.

 

The scene cuts off to Team Rocket, who are shown being pecked by a group of {{p|Spearow}} and {{p|Fearow}} in their deflated balloon.

* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} meet the [[Violet Gym]]'s [[Gym Leader]], [[Falkner]].

* [[Ash's Charizard]] is revealed to know {{m|Fly}}.

* This episode's English title is a reference to the popular saying, "fight fire with fire".

* [[DP085|Two]] [[DP163|episodes]] from the {{series|Diamond & Pearl}} have episode titles similar to this one.

** Both feature either a {{type|Fire}} or a {{type|Flying}}.

* When Pikachu tries unsuccessfully to electrocute Team Rocket, Jessie says, "Go ahead, shock around the clock if you'd like!" This is a reference to the famous {{wp|rock and roll}} song ''{{wp|Rock Around the Clock}}''.

* Falkner says almost exactly the same thing about people underestimating Flying types in this episode and when the player character challenges him in the games.

* The book ''[[Battle for the Zephyr Badge]]'' is based on this episode.

* This episode ends with almost the same way as in ''[[EP081|Pallet Party Panic]]'', having Team Rocket to be {{m|Peck|peck}}ed by a group of {{p|Spearow}}.

* Meowth [[breaking the fourth wall|breaks the fourth wall]] when he mentions that it was a bad ending.

* This is the only episode where the move {{m|Fly}} is referred as an [[move|attack]], as Ash tells Charizard to use "Fly attack".

* Ash said that his {{AP|Pidgeot}} [[EP081|was]] protecting a flock of fellow Pidgeot, when it was actually protecting a flock of {{p|Pidgey}} and {{p|Pidgeotto}}.

* Falkner's Hoothoot is seen with both feet on the ground in its standoff against Pikachu.

* In the [[Pokémon in Finland|Finnish]] dub, Pidgeot was incorrectly referred as Pidgeotto through the whole episode.

[[zh:EP132]]