Ash's Squirtle: Difference between revisions

====[[Original series]]====

=====Kanto=====

Squirtle first appeared in ''[[EP012|Here Comes the Squirtle Squad]]'' as the leader of a gang known as the [[Squirtle Squad]], a group of rogue Squirtle who were deserted by their {{pkmn|Trainer}}s. {{MTR}} managed to befriend the Squirtle Squad by convincing them that [[Jessie]] and [[James]] were his pets. On Meowth's orders, the Squirtle Squad captured {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} so they could take {{AP|Pikachu}} back to Meowth. Ash managed to convince the Squirtle Squad to free him and allow him to get a [[Super Potion]] for Pikachu, who was badly injured after an earlier encounter with a {{p|Goldeen}}. The Squirtle Squad allowed Ash to go, but they threatened to execute Misty (bleach her hair in the English [[dub]]) if he didn't return by the next day.

When Ash got back with the Super Potion, Team Rocket betrayed the Squirtle Squad and began bombing them after they captured Pikachu. The group ran for cover inside the Squirtle Squad's cave; however, when Ash noticed that the leader was stuck on his shell, he rushed in and shielded Squirtle's body with his own. Dazed and with more bombs en route, Ash told Squirtle to save itself. Touched by Ash's loyalty, Squirtle tearfully carried Ash to the cave and then defeated Team Rocket with {{m|Water Gun}}. However, Team Rocket's bombs had started a forest fire, which the Squirtle Squad worked together to put out. Once it was extinguished, [[Officer Jenny]] appointed the Squirtle Squad as the official town firefighters. The leader, however, preferred to join Ash on his {{pkmn|journey}} rather than fight fires alongside his group, as it wanted to repay Ash for saving his life during the bombing. After being accepted, Squirtle ran into Ash's arms, as the Trainer declared he had {{pkmn2|caught}} a Squirtle.

During its time with Ash, Squirtle became one of Ash's three most trustworthy Pokémon, next to Pikachu and {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, and it was used often. Squirtle's {{t|Water}} type and ability to swim helped Ash a few times, notably during the escape from St. Anne in ''[[EP016|Pokémon Shipwreck]]''.

In ''[[EP033|The Flame Pokémon-athon!]]'', Squirtle served as Pikachu's partner during the [[Big P Pokémon Race]], while Ash took [[Lara Laramie]]'s place and used her {{p|Ponyta}}. Despite their significant disadvantage due to Squirtle's short legs and Pikachu's weight, they reached the water stage, putting them in the top four with Ash, {{an|Misty}}, and [[Dario]]. However, {{TRT}} intervened, provoking a battle, and the two were incapacitated by {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}}'s {{m|Glare}}.

Squirtle's Gym battle debut came late and its Kanto Gym record was two losses, the first to [[Blaine]]'s {{p|Ninetales}} in ''[[EP058|Riddle Me This]]'', who Ash believed would be disadvantaged against Squirtle. Ninetales' {{m|Fire Spin}} completely overpowered Water Gun and took Squirtle down in one hit. In ''[[EP059|Volcanic Panic]]'', it was then sent out to fight the fire to cool off {{TP|Brock|Onix}}, {{TP|Brock|Geodude}}, and Pikachu with water as they dammed the volcano. The second loss was against {{an|Giovanni}}'s {{p|Machamp}}, under the control of [[Jessie]] in ''[[EP063|The Battle of the Badge]]''. Squirtle took damage from {{p|Machamp}}'s {{m|Karate Chop}}, but the battle was ended when Giovanni's Pokémon defected and Team Rocket was sent blasting off.

Ash used Squirtle during his [[Indigo Plateau Conference]]. In ''[[EP075|Round One - Begin!]]'', Ash relied on Squirtle to battle [[Mandi]], but his powerful {{AP|Kingler}} took the sweep and Squirtle was unnecessary. However, it won Ash's second round by using {{m|Skull Bash}} to defeat a {{p|Nidorino}} in ''[[EP076|Fire and Ice]]'' after it revealed its ability to use {{m|Withdraw}} to absorb the Nidorino's Tackle.