EP005: Difference between revisions

{{TRT}} finish digging a hole trap and disguise it with soil, leaves and wood, though fall into it soon after forgetting its location. Meanwhile, {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, and {{AP|Pikachu}} arrive on the outskirts of [[Pewter City]]. As Ash takes a rest on some rocks, he and Misty meet a mysterious man named {{ka|Flint}} who sells rocks for a living. Flint escorts Ash, Misty, and Pikachu to the [[Pokémon Center]], where Ash is surprised to encounter [[Nurse Joy]] again. She explains that she is the [[Viridian City]] Joy's older sister. She directs Ash's attention to a poster promoting a tournament called the [[Pokémon League]] Championship and he decides to sign up. Before he can enter, however, he needs to defeat eight Pokémon [[Gym Leader]]s and earn a [[Badge|Gym Badge]] from each as proof of his victory. Flint walks in at this point and tells Ash about Pewter City's Gym Leader, {{an|Brock}}. He is openly skeptical of Ash's chances of winning, and laughs scornfully at the very thought of it. Over a meal, Misty warns Ash of Gym Leaders' prodigious skill and offers him advice, she becomes angry when he declines and walks off.

Ash stops by the Pokémon Center again to pick up his healed [[Party|team]] before making his way to the [[Pewter Gym]]. When he arrives the Gym is dark, though he soon meets the Gym Leader, Brock, and challenges him to a battle. Brock queries Ash, to which he replies that he has been travelling with Pikachu for two weeks. With a snap of his fingers, Brock transforms the Gym into a rocky field and turns on the lights. In the Pewter Gym, battles are two against two. Ash begins the match with Pikachu while Brock starts off with {{TP|Brock|Onix}}. Pikachu is intimidated by the giant Pokémon and doesn't want to battle, but Ash responds by telling Pikachu that this is his battle. Pikachu's {{m|Thunder Shock}} is woefully ineffective against Onix's {{m|Bind}} which begins to crush Pikachu, inflicting visible pain. This prompts Ash to recall Pikachu to its [[Poké Ball]], though the attempt is thwarted by the larger Pokémon's bulk. Ash cannot bear to watch his friend suffering and he forfeits the match.

As a dejected Ash leaves the Gym, he encounters Flint again, who suggests that Ash follow him to his home. Ash agrees, and over some tea they discuss what happened in the Gym. Flint notices that Ash is obviously upset over his loss, so he consoles him with the knowledge that Brock could be an even better Trainer than he already is. Ash becomes confused by this, but Flint refuses to elaborate. Instead, he leads Ash outside to peer over a hedge into another house. The two watch Brock, in a pink apron, care for his {{Brocksib|nine little brothers and sisters}}. Walking through the city, Flint explains that after Brock's good-for-nothing father left home to become a Pokémon Trainer, his heartbroken mother abandoned them, leaving the eldest child, Brock, to take care of his siblings. Ash feels sympathy for Brock, but is determined to defeat him nonetheless. Flint recognizes Ash's determination and mentions that he might know of a way Ash can super-charge Pikachu.

Flint and Ash travel to a hydroelectric plant, where Flint hooks up the generator to the electric sacs in Pikachu's cheeks. As the river is bone-dry, Ash must run on a large water wheel to generate the electricity, which flows into Pikachu. Misty shows up and offers to lend Ash her {{type|Water}} Pokémon, but Ash refuses and continues charging Pikachu until the generator overloads and Pikachu's electricity lights up the night sky. The next day, Ash returns with confidence to the Pewter City Gym for a rematch. Brock is also confident after his easy victory in the last battle, and the two quickly start the rematch. Brock starts off with {{TP|Brock|Geodude}}, while Ash sends out {{AP|Pidgeotto}}. However, the {{t|Normal}} and {{type|Flying}} Pokémon {{t|Rock|cannot hurt Geodude}}, and is knocked out. Ash recalls it and sends out Pikachu. Misty watches and cheers for Ash from the rafters though is later outnumbered by Brock's supportive siblings.

Ash leaves the Pewter Gym, and apologizes to Pikachu for being so tough. He turns around after hearing someone calling, and notices Brock running to catch up with him. Surprisingly, Brock gives him the {{Badge|Boulder}}. Ash doesn't want to accept the Badge, but Brock insists that Ash has earned it through his kindness to Pokémon. Brock continues to explain that rather than becoming a great Pokémon Trainer, his dream is to become a great {{tc|Pokémon Breeder}}, but can't do so because of his family duties. He gives Ash the Badge, and asks him to fulfill his dream, to which Ash agrees.

Suddenly, Flint reappears, he removes his beard and hat, and reveals that he is Brock's good-for-nothing father. He explains that he avoided returning to his family as a failure of a Pokémon Trainer. Ash puzzles over the fact that Flint helped him instead of his son, Brock, and Flint explains that Ash's helplessness reminded him of himself. Flint is ready to take back the responsibilities that he abandoned years ago, which Brock returns to him, along with a long list of tasks for him to remember while taking care of the children. That evening, Ash and Brock travel on the road out of Pewter City. Ash insists that he is glad to the company. However, Misty is a different story, and from several paces behind she yells at him to not forget about her [[bicycle]]. Ash and Pikachu, followed by Brock, run ahead to lose Misty, though she remains in pursuit. Team Rocket appear for a final cameo, finally managing to burst out of their self-made tomb via a power drill, only to end up trampled by {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} as they run over the hole in the ground, unaware of the people underfoot.