DP050: Difference between revisions

The episode starts with {{Ash}} and {{an|Brock}} handing {{an|Dawn}} an entry card for the [[Hearthome City]] Tag Battle competition. [[Zoey]] suggested it to give Dawn a confidence boost after not making it into the second round of the Hearthome Contest. At the stadium, the MC explains the rules and shows the competitors the prize for winning, a {{DL|Out-of-battle effect item|Soothe Bell}} that {{TRT}} wants to steal. The contestants are shuffled and put into partners for the competition. The three set off to find their partners. Dawn is the first to find her partner, an odd boy named [[Conway]] and his {{p|Slowking}}. Next Brock finds his partner, a girl named [[Holly]] with a {{p|Wingull}}. Of course, she is a beautiful girl who Brock falls for, but she tells him that she is not interested in younger men. Ash is still searching for his partner when a voice calls out "of course ''you'' had to be number 15." He turns around to find his partner is none other than [[Paul]] standing there with his {{TP|Paul|Elekid}} and {{TP|Paul|Chimchar}}.

Brock and Holly are up next. It's {{TP|Brock|Sudowoodo}} and Wingull against a {{p|Yanma}} and {{p|Bagon}}. Wingull uses a {{m|Blizzard}} attack but is hit by a {{m|Steel Wing}} from Yanma first. While Wingull is falling, Bagon comes in with a {{m|Zen Headbutt}}, which is stopped by a {{m|Double-Edge}} from Sudowoodo. The other side is arguing about getting in each others way. Wingull uses an icy Blizzard. Bagon tries to counter with {{m|Dragon Breath}} but is hit by Sudowoodo's {{m|Flail}} first. Wingull hits Yanma with an {{m|Aerial Ace}} and both Bagon and Yanma faint. They win and advance to the next round. Brock starts to flirt with Holly, then catches himself and stops... only for Holly to start flirting with him. Brock is surprised, while {{TP|Brock|Croagunk}} is left bemused.

Ash and Paul are the last battle of the first round. Ash sends out {{AP|Pikachu}} and Paul sends out Chimchar, and the opposition sends out a {{p|Rhydon}} and {{p|Magmar}}. Ash decides to battle his way and starts things off with a {{m|Thunderbolt}} towards Magmar however the attack is redirected to Rhydon thanks to its {{a|Lightning Rod}} [[Ability]]. Rhydon, who is naturally unharmed, then smashes Pikachu with a {{m|Megahorn}} attack. Magmar attacks with a {{m|Lava Plume}}, an extremely powerful {{type|Fire}} move that affects everyone on the field. Rhydon is left barely affected thanks to its type-advantage, but the blaze of fire quickly heads toward Pikachu and Chimchar. Ash tells Pikachu to dodge but Paul sends Chimchar straight into the fire. The flame on Chimchar's tail becomes bigger and Chimchar gives a powerful blast of {{m|Flamethrower}}, which has very little effect on Rhydon. Rhydon counters with a direct hit from a {{m|Hammer Arm}}. Pikachu comes down from its dodge with an {{m|Iron Tail}}. Now the two opponents are aware that even without electric attacks, Pikachu shouldn't be taken lightly and have Rhydon strike back with a surprise {{m|Surf}} attack while Magmar uses {{m|Protect}}. Paul decides to take it head on with a {{m|Flame Wheel}}. Ash tries to convince him that Chimchar could really get hurt but he doesn't care. As Pikachu panics, Ash suddenly remembers how Zoey used {{TP|Zoey|Glameow}}'s Iron Tail to cut through water in her contest appeal and has Pikachu break through the surf, which slams into Rhydon. Pikachu then scores a direct-hit with Iron Tail knocking Rhydon out and leaving Magmar alone. Now free to use electric attacks, Pikachu goes straight for Magmar with a {{m|Volt Tackle}} but Magmar deflects it with a {{m|Fire Punch}}. While Pikachu and Magmar are fighting, Chimchar comes from beneath with a {{m|Dig}} that knocks out Magmar. Brock tells Dawn that Ash and Paul can't get much further unless they start working as a team.

* {{p|Shellos}} ({{OP|Zoey|Gastrodon|Shellos}}; flashback)

* This is the first episode of the three-part 'Tag Battle Tournament' mini-arc.