Blaine: Difference between revisions

{{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} first met a Blaine in his disguise while they looked for the [[Cinnabar Gym]] in ''[[EP058|Riddle Me This]]''. Prior to the episode, Blaine was forced to close the Cinnabar Gym after the island became a tourist mecha for hot springs. He went on to run the Big Riddle Inn, and after {{an|Misty}} solved Blaine's riddles, Ash and his friends went on stay at the hotel during their time on [[Cinnabar Island]].

Blaine alerted Ash and his friends to {{TRT}}'s attack on the [[Pokémon Lab]] after he received a phone call. After the group defeated the evil trio, Blaine, still in disguise, revealed that he operated a Gym "in a place where no firefighter could win". The group went on to discover Blaine's secretive Gym, located inside the Cinnabar Volcano, after [[Misty's Togepi]] accidentally jumped on one of the hot spring's tap fixtures and revealed a secret entry way.

Misty went on to solve another riddle and Blaine removed his wig, fake moustache, and sunglasses. He also disguised his voice to be softer and lower-pitched than normal. Ash then challenges Blaine in a three-on-three Gym match. Blaine's {{p|Ninetales}} made quick work of [[Ash's Squirtle]] knocking it out with a single {{p|Fire Spin}}. Ash then selected his {{AP|Charizard}}, while Blaine called on his {{p|Rhydon}}'s assistance. However, Rhydon emerged victorious after Charizard flew away from the battlefield to nap. Pikachu then defeated Rhydon after he used Rhydon's horn to conduct a powerful {{m|Thunderbolt}} attack. Blaine selected his {{TP|Blaine|Magmar}}as his third and final Pokemon, and Pikachu found himself in a precarious situation. The match resumed in ''[[EP059|Volcanic Panic]]'', though quickly ended after Ash forfeited when Pikachu nearly fell into the Gym’s boiling magma. Blaine commended Ash for his wise decision and agreed to a [[rematch]] against him one day.

After the battle, Team Rocket broke into the Cinnabar Gym and attempted to steal Blaine's Magmar by freezing it with guns that projected beams of ice. Magmar broke free in the end; however, the sudden cooling of the walls in the lava cave caused the rock to begin to crack and caused Cinnabar Island volcano to erupt. Blaine, Ash and his friends went on to use their {{t|Water}}, {{t|Rock}}, and {{type|Fire}} Pokémon to dam the cracks in the walls with boulders.

During the emergency, Ash's Charizard and Blaine's Magmar gained an interest in the other's strength, each wishing to test it in battle. Blaine agreed to a rematch with Ash; due to the internal damage of the volcano, it was held on the volcano's crater. At first, Magmar and Charizard were evenly matched, but Charizard's ability to fly gave it an advantage. It lifted Magmar high into the air and used {{m|Seismic Toss}}, slamming Magmar into the volcano. The Spitfire Pokémon was knocked out, and Blaine was defeated.

He was seen in a flashback in ''[[EP060|Beach Blank-Out Blastoise]]''.

Blaine likes to make up riddles and use puns even in inappropriate situations. Even so, Blaine is a stern opponent and takes his role as [[Gym Leader]] very seriously. He values a keen challenger and makes sure they truly earn their {{Badge|Volcano}} in {{pkmn|battle}}. He has crafted his battle strategy around his Gym's volcanic location, which suits his {{t|Fire}} Pokémon against its biggest weakness, {{t|Water}} Pokémon. The searing heat can also exhaust and overwhelm a challenger.