AG096: Difference between revisions

Nearby, Team Rocket are happily running on a treadmill. They hesitate when Ash and friends approach, but ignore them and continue to run, sticking to their original plan. Ash warns Rocky that Team Rocket are dangerous, but he says that they welcome anyone on the island, that Team Rocket hasn’t done anything yet, and that they seem to be content just working out. As Jessie, James, and Meowth talk to themselves on the treadmill, Rocky suddenly challenges Ash to a {{pkmn|battle}}! The other Trainers say that Rocky is the strongest Trainer on the island, but that only makes Ash more intrigued. May and the others want to watch, of course, but Rocky says that his group has a rule prohibiting spectators. Ash and Rocky leave for their battle, and the other Trainers approach to say that May and the others can continue training. Meanwhile, on the treadmill, Meowth figures that maybe this battle will be their chance to get Pikachu, since it will eventually be tired out. However, Jessie and James aren’t paying attention, instead focusing on keeping up their rhythm.  

Meanwhile, at the battle, Ash has no idea what to do next, but then he notices the time it takes for Walrein to charge its Ice Ball is longer the bigger the Ice Ball is, as Pikachu and Grovyle dodge another one. He then gets an idea. Rocky orders another Ice Ball, and Walrein charges it up. Ash quickly tells Pikachu to hit Walrein with Thunderbolt. As expected, Quagsire takes the attack. It has to stay in one place to do so, so Ash takes advantage of that and has Grovyle Leaf Blade it, for a powerful hit. Pikachu then jumps on Grovyle’s head leaf, and Grovyle throws it towards Walrein. From the air, Pikachu releases another Thunderbolt, scoring a direct hit this time. Quagsire and Walrein both [[fainting|faint]], and Pikachu and Grovyle are the winners! Rocky recalls his Pokémon, thanks them for a good battle, and congratulates Ash, complimenting him on his strategy. Rocky comments on what he has learned from battling Ash, and that’s when Brock and the others show up. They ask how the battle went, and Ash tells them he won. Rocky then points them towards the ferry they need to take.

Later, Ash and friends are on a ferry bound for Mossdeep City with Ash excited for his [[Mossdeep Gym|seventh Gym Battle]]. However what the gang don't know is that Team Rocket are also on the boat, disguised as {{tc|sailor}}s. James watches the twerps while Jessie and Meowth complain about their sore muscles. James says that now that they’re stronger from their physical training, this is their chance to steal Pikachu. They approach the twerps, and say that they’re not allowed to have any Pokémon on board the ferry and that they'll take Pikachu for "safe-keeping". James reaches for Pikachu, but Ash instinctively grabs James’s arm, as Pikachu cries out. Ash isn't about to just hand Pikachu over to anyone and demands to know who they are, and Jessie and James start their motto. Meowth interrupts them to point out that if they’re going to do the motto, there’s no point in keeping the disguises on. Jessie agrees and says that they haven’t done the motto yet today either, so they remove the disguises and continue. When they’re done, James brags about their new strength while Jessie produces a net and snags Pikachu. Ash grabs it, and it turns into an all-out tug-of-war between the two sides, both sides desperately trying to keep hold of Pikachu. However Pikachu does not like being pulled from both sides, and lets out a massive Thunderbolt out of stress. While Pikachu succeeds in sending Team Rocket blasting off, it also sends Ash and the others blasting off in the opposite direction, far from the ferry which rapidly moves away, leaving our heroes stranded in the middle of the ocean!