EP202: Difference between revisions

As {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} walk across an open field, they notice a pattern in the grass that looks like a circle with an X in the middle of it. All of a sudden a ball with a leaf-like tail drops nearby. They look up, wondering what's going on, and Ash spots a [[Transportation in the Pokémon world|balloon]] in the distance, shaped like and pulled by a {{p|Fearow}}. The balloon lands next to them, allowing a boy to jump out of it. He introduces himself as {{jo|Skyler}} and explains that he is training for a big balloon race coming up soon.  

Skyler takes the gang over to a garage, where a man is working on a balloon design. The man - [[Tenma]] - designs balloons based on {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} for a race, with a picture gallery on the wall showing some of his work. He sets up a {{p|Pikachu}} balloon for the gang to ride in and train for the race themselves. They take off and do a few check-ups, before letting out a {{type|Flying}} Pokémon to drag the balloon faster. Ash sends out his {{AP|Noctowl}} while Skyler uses his Fearow. Noctowl helps to make the balloon go faster, but it goes too fast and causes the balloon to tilt. Tenma tells them to slow down a bit, which allows Ash's group to regain control.  

Nearby, {{TRT}} watches their archenemies. [[Jessie]] and [[James]] don't really care about what's happening, but {{MTR}} comes by with the race pamphlet, revealing that the winner of the race gets an advanced burner for their balloon. Jessie and James aren't too thrilled, but Meowth seems eager to enter the race. Late at night before the race, Jessie and James sneak into the balloon start area, apparently intent on tipping the odds in their favor.

The next day, dozens of contestants are ready to race. Team Rocket makes a last-minute entry, using their signature Meowth balloon. As they start off, most of the balloons malfunction; only a few balloons, including Ash's and Skyler's, are left floating. Meowth realizes that Jessie and James sabotaged the competition; he angrily berates them for cheating, but James sends out {{TP|James|Weezing}} to choke up the competition with {{m|Smog}}. The smoke knocks out all three competitors, expect Ash and Skyler. Meowth yells at James again, but Jessie shrugs and uses {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} to shoot out some {{m|Poison Sting|Pins}}. Ash and Skyler dodge the barrage, but the other racer ends up falling. Meowth, fed up with his team's dirty tricks, slashes Jessie and James, only to be tied up for his troubles.

A storm is building ahead, but James activates a jet engine to send his team's balloon soaring through. As Ash and Skyler try to get through the storm, Ash's balloon's burner shorts out. Ash sends out {{AP|Cyndaquil}} to replace the burner, but they are headed straight into a mesa. Ash tells Noctowl to pull up as best he can while Cyndaquil uses a powerful {{m|Flamethrower}} to heat up the balloon. Tense seconds later, the balloon pulls up and heads above the clouds.  

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has a significant lead, but their celebration is cut short when they see Ash and Skyler break through the storm. James transforms the engine into a missile launcher and fires a few volleys towards Ash's balloon. The balloon doesn't get hit, but Cyndaquil gets knocked back. Ash saves his Pokémon from falling off the balloon, but another missile explodes nearby and injures his shoulder. As Ash falls, Cyndaquil hops back up to the burner and {{AP|Pikachu}} is mad and wants to fight; however James uses the jet engine to flee. Ash tells Noctowl to help Pikachu get to Team Rocket, so Noctowl lets go of the rope and gives Pikachu a ride towards Team Rocket's balloon. James uses the missiles again to fend off Noctowl, prompting Skyler to send Fearow to distract Team Rocket. As the larger Flying Pokémon distracts the criminals, Pikachu manages to fire a {{m|Thunderbolt}} at Team Rocket, destroying the balloon and sending them flying into the distance.  

With the cheating villains gone, Ash and Skyler get to the target area and toss their balls at the target. Both get a bull-eye, making them both winners of the race; however, there's only one balloon burner as a prize. Ash tells Skyler he should take the prize, since Ash and his friends don't usually travel by balloon anyways. After exchanging goodbyes, the trio departs for their next destination...