EP173: Difference between revisions

{{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}} and {{an|Brock}} are finishing up a lunch break on the road to [[Ecruteak City]], when they are accosted by a {{p|Wobbuffet}}. At first, they assume that {{TRT}} must be nearby, but suddenly more Wobbuffet emerge from the bushes.

The group follows the {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} and eventually comes to a town full of Wobbuffet and their Trainers. A resident explains that this is [[Wobbuffet Village]], where everybody owns a Wobbuffet. Furthermore, the village is in the midst of its annual [[Wobbuffet Festival]].

Meanwhile, Team Rocket has arrived on the outskirts of the village too, exhausted. While [[Jessie]] berates her {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}} for popping up unannounced as usual, yet more Wobbuffet appear around them. A villager, {{OBP|Lulu|EP173}}, approaches with her own Wobbuffet and congratulates Jessie on hers. Assuming that Team Rocket is there for the festival, she invites them to her home. Though they are thoroughly bemused by the notion of a festival honoring Wobbuffet, they quickly change their tune when their host arrives with mountains of food. They are even happier to learn that there will be more food at the festival. Lulu gives Jessie's Wobbuffet a yellow headband, and takes them to see the "festival symbol", which is a huge sculpture of a Wobbuffet. While Jessie struggles to hide her incredulity, a [[Wobbuffet Festival crashers|suspicious trio]] watch from the cliffs above, and call out their Pokémon: {{p|Hitmonlee}}, {{p|Machoke}} and {{p|Primeape}}.

Ash and friends are enjoying the festival when there is a commotion. A girl, {{OBP|Annie|EP173}}, is crying because somebody attacked her Wobbuffet. Moments later, a man, [[Yahichi]], reports that three assailants attacked his Wobbuffet too.

 

Team Rocket, meanwhile, is searching for the festival's food stocks. Ash and friends discover them, despite a hastily improvised disguise, and immediately conclude that they are the mystery attackers. Team Rocket protests their innocence, and is vouched for by Lulu. A report comes through of another attack, and Ash reluctantly concludes that Team Rocket couldn't have done it. He and his friends leave to investigate the attack, while Team Rocket gets back to their plan to steal the festival's food.

Ash is desperate to stop the festival crashers in their continuing destruction of the festival symbol, but Lulu holds him back, unwilling to break the festival's non-violent tradition. Suddenly, Team Rocket descends in their balloon, recites their [[Team Rocket mottos|motto]] and confronts the villains. Despite Officer Jenny's protests, they insist on a battle with the festival crashers, explaining that they don't care about the festival's rules. Jessie sends out {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}}, and James sends out {{TP|James|Victreebel}}, who attempts to eat Meowth for a change. The Hitmonlee uses {{m|Rolling Kick}} against Arbok, which responds with a {{m|Tackle}}. Machoke uses {{m|Karate Chop}} on Victreebel, which counterattacks with {{m|Razor Leaf}}, although this is blocked by Primeape. Arbok then tries to use {{m|Wrap}} against Hitmonlee, but is knocked out by a {{m|Hi Jump Kick}} before it can pull it off. Machoke also finishes off Victreebel with a {{m|Seismic Toss}}. Angry, Jessie sends out Wobbuffet, which looks less than threatening in his headband. The festival crashers laugh, and then order their Pokémon to attack. However, Wobbuffet Counters Hitmonlee's {{m|Jump Kick}}, followed by Machoke's Seismic Toss, and then Primeape's {{m|Fury Swipes}}. The crashers decide to combine their Pokémon's attacks in order to beat Wobbuffet, but Wobbuffet Counters all three, sending the Pokémon blasting off, Team Rocket-style.