DP054: Difference between revisions

{{TRT}} watch from nearby bushes and decide to steal {{AP|Pikachu}} the old-fashioned way. They race out into the open and perform their motto. [[Jessie]] then sends out {{TP|Jessie|Seviper}} and [[James]] sends out {{TP|James|Cacnea}}, which grabs on to him. {{Ash}} asks Pikachu to use {{m|Thunderbolt}}, but before it can, Gardenia starts swooning over Cacnea, calling it "cute" and "cuddly". {{an|Dawn}} comments that Gardenia has never met a {{type|Grass}} which she has not fallen in love with. James takes Cacnea off her, telling her to grow her own Grass-type. Gardenia asks to borrow it, but James refuses. The children then remind Gardenia that she is supposed to show them a battle. Gardenia then persuades James to join her in a [[Multi Battle|Tag Battle]] against Ash and Dawn, and Brock agrees to referee.

Gardenia sends out {{TP|Gardenia|Turtwig}} alongside Cacnea to face {{TP|Dawn|Pachirisu}} and {{AP|Aipom}}. Aipom starts with {{m|Swift}}, which hits Cacnea while Turtwig dodges. Cacnea then fights back with {{m|Pin Missile}} and Turtwig uses {{m|Leaf Storm}}. Both are dodged and Gardenia says that she has never seen such a gorgeous Pin Missile. Pachirisu uses {{m|Spark}}, which Turtwig dodges, before hitting Pachirisu with {{m|Bite}}. Pachirisu then uses {{m|Discharge}}, which is dodged by everyone except Cacnea. Aipom uses {{m|Focus Punch}} and Cacnea counters with {{m|Needle Arm}}, which breaks through the Focus Punch and hits Aipom. Meowth comments that the Needle Arm was surprisingly good and Gardenia suggests that Cacnea should use Needle Arm again. Pachirisu uses Spark and James tells Cacnea to counter with Needle Arm, but Pachirisu dodges and hits Cacnea. Aipom prepares to use Focus Punch, and Gardenia suggests James should tell Cacnea to use {{m|Drain Punch}}, and then explains how it is performed. James does so and Cacnea hits Aipom with a powerful Drain Punch, surprising everyone except Gardenia.

While Gardenia is distracted with Cacnea, Ash and Dawn take advantage, and a cry makes Gardenia remember Turtwig just as it is hit by Pachirisu's Spark, knocking it out. Aipom uses Swift and James calls for another Drain Punch, but the move fails and Cacnea is hit. Aipom then hits it with Focus Punch as it tries to use Drain Punch again, knocking Cacnea out and ending the battle. The children blame James for the loss. Gardenia says that she was right about Cacnea being strong enough to use Drain Punch. Dawn asks why it did not work the other times, and Cacnea explains it was an accident that it worked at all. Gardenia says that it was actually because James and Cacnea were not quite in sync. Gardenia then offers to train Cacnea, before heading to the [[Pokémon Center]] with the kids.

Later, James and Cacnea sit on a hill overlooking the town, depressed and thoughtful, when Jessie tells them to snap out of it. James then reveals that he is not sure whether to give Cacnea to Gardenia or not. Cacnea then says that it would like to learn to use Drain Punch. The "twerps" then return, and Jessie suggests getting them to help Cacnea train. James and Cacnea start training, making Dawn comment that Team Rocket do the right thing "once in a while", angering Jessie and Meowth. Ash and Pikachu offer to help them train, and while Dawn is doubtful, James and Cacnea are delighted. Pikachu uses {{m|Quick Attack}}, which Cacnea counters with Needle Arm. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, which Cacnea dodges, causing it to hit James instead. Cacnea uses Needle Arm and Pikachu counters with {{m|Iron Tail}}, but Needle Arm breaks through it and hits Pikachu. Cacnea then tries Drain Punch, but it fails and Cacnea trips on a rock. Brock comments that their timing is still off.

Later, Cacnea uses {{TP|James|Carnivine}} and {{AP|Chimchar}} to practice punching. One of Cacnea's punches hits Chimchar in the face, so James tells it to use Drain Punch, but the resulting attack is not very strong. That evening, James goes back to pondering over whether to give Cacnea to Gardenia, and decides to have a training battle with Aipom. Gardenia comes up to watch. Aipom opens with Focus Punch, but Cacnea dodges and uses Needle Arm. They try again, but this time Cacnea misses and is hit by Focus Punch. Cacnea dodges another Focus Punch and counters with Needle Arm, before trying another Drain Punch, but it fails. Cacnea tries to counter repeated Focus Punches with Drain Punch, but is hit repeatedly. Cacnea ends up extremely tired, and still trying to continue, but James stops it. Making up his mind, he tells Cacnea to go with Gardenia, as he believes he will not let Cacnea reach its full potential. As he holds up Cacnea's Poké Ball, he fondly recalls his times with it, and then says goodbye as he returns it. He then gives the Poké Ball to Gardenia and tells her to look after it, before running off crying, with Jessie and Meowth in hot pursuit.