Episode 1: Pokémon - I Choose You! The Pokémon story begins with our hero, Ash, in his hometown of Pallet where 10 year old boys and girls are not only eligible but encouraged to begin their Pokémon journey. Pokémon are creatures of various size and special powers which inhabit this world, coexisting with humans. Young Ash is a Pokémon enthusiast with an insatiable curiosity toward Pokémon. His knowledge of these mysterious creatures surpasses most of his peers. The day he has been waiting for has finally arrived; he can now begin his journey, leading him toward his destiny, to become the Greatest Pokémon Master of All Time! Before fulfilling such an ambitious task, however, Ash must receive his first Pokémon from Professor Oak, a researcher living in Pallet. Ash has decided beforehand which Pokémon will accompany him as he begins his travels, but oversleeps on the critical day of his departure and arrives after the appointed time. Three children, who began their journeys before Ash, have taken the Pokémon that he wanted. Inside the fourth remaining Poké Ball, Ash finds Pikachu—a rare Pokémon with the ability to shock you with his sometimes difficult but, nevertheless, electric personality and power. Ash and Pikachu set off on their journey, but as anticipated, Pikachu won’t obey Ash. In the course of their travels, Ash and Pikachu are attacked by a huge flock of wild Spearow. During the attack, Pikachu is critically injured and Ash fights desperately to protect it from any further harm. Pikachu responds to Ash’s selfless act by exerting all its remaining power, repelling the flock of Spearow with a 100,000-volt electric shock. Thus Ash and Pikachu’s journey and friendship begins. Episode 2: Pokémon Emergency As they flee from the Spearow flock, Ash learns from a feisty young girl named Misty that there is a hospital for Pokémon, a Pokémon Center, in the nearby town of Viridian City. Ash arrives in Viridian City with the one thought of finding the Pokémon Center where Pikachu, who is near death, can be treated. He is stopped and interrogated, however, by Jenny, the town policewoman, who finds him suspicious. Proving his identity with the Pokédex he received from Professor Oak, Jenny races Ash and the injured Pikachu to the Pokémon Center. Joy, the Pokémon Center nurse, begins treatment on Pikachu. Just as Ash breathes a sigh of relief, grateful to have gotten his only Pokémon the care it needed, the Pokémon Center is attacked by Jessie and James, two members of 'Team Rocket,’ an evil organization of Pokémon thieves. Meowth, a Pokémon of the cat persuasion, completes the menacing pack whose evil could only be surpassed by Team Rocket’s boss. Two of Team Rocket’s Pokémon, Ekans and Koffing destroy the Pokémon Center. Ash, along with Misty who has followed him to the Pokémon Center, resist the attack, but have no Pokémon that can successfully battle against Team Rocket. The barely recovered Pikachu brings a host of Pikachu friends and enters the battle just in time to rescue Ash and Misty from this pinch, attacking Team Rocket with a tremendous electric shock that blows them away. Episode 3: Ash Catches a Pokémon Ash, Pikachu and Misty leave Viridian City and enter the Viridian Forest, where they discover Caterpie—a forest Pokémon. Promptly seizing it with a Poké Ball, Ash is overjoyed at his first capture. Misty, however, hates bugs, being chased all over the forest as Caterpie tries to play with her. That evening, the party camps out in the woods. While Ash and Misty sleep, Caterpie tells Pikachu of its dream of someday evolving into a beautiful Butterfree. The following day, Ash captures a Pidgeotto with Pikachu’s help. Substituting Pikachu for Caterpie, Ash is victorious in his capture of Pidgeotto. In search of rare Pokémon, not to mention retribution for their bruised egos from their last meeting with Ash, Team Rocket has set their sights on Ash’s Pikachu, making it very clear that they are here to stay. As a battle unfolds between Team Rocket and Ash, things look bleak for the good guys as Pidgeotto and Pikachu are defeated by Ekans and Koffing. In a last ditch effort, Caterpie saves the day by encasing the enemies in its special web and sending them off into oblivion. After making peace with Misty, the victorious Caterpie suddenly spins its thread, encasing its body in a cocoon. Caterpie has now evolved into a Metapod, bringing it one step closer to its dream of becoming a Butterfree. Episode 4: Challenge of the Samurai Wandering the Viridian Forest, our heroes meet up with a mysterious young Samurai. Continually polishing his skills as a Pokémon Trainer by challenging all trainers that pass through the forest, he now sets his sights on Ash. Their Pokémon battle begins, Metapod against Metapod. Just when it seems a victor will never emerge, a swarm of Beedrill attacks, causing a delay in the battle. The samurai is first to flee for shelter. Ash tries to recall his Metapod into a Poké Ball, but just misses this seemingly helpless Pokémon as it is being whisked off by the Beedrill. Our heroes manage to escape, aided by Pikachu’s electric shock, but Metapod is nowhere to be seen. The search begins. They finally discover Metapod conspicuously resting in a nest of Kakuna about to hatch into Beedrills. Ash attempts to rescue Metapod, but Team Rocket arrives on the scene, interfering with his plans. The noise of their conflict arouses the sleeping Metapod, who evolve into swarming Beedrill eager to attack our heroes. Ash rescues Metapod, leaving the members of Team Rocket, who are oblivious to any danger, as decoys. In the meantime, Metapod throws its body in front of an attacking Beedrill to protect Ash from its piercing stinger. As a result, it’s shell is torn open, transforming the brave Metapod into the beautiful Butterfree. Under Ash’s direction, Butterfree uses Sleep Powder to put the Beedrill swarm, as well as Team Rocket to sleep. Our heroes part company with the young samurai, leaving him in awe of Ash’s dexterous handling of a Butterfree in battle. Episode 5: Showdown in Pewter City As they approach the entrance to Pewter City, our heroes meet a strange and enigmatic old rock-seller named Flint. When he learns that Ash is a Pokémon Trainer in training, Flint strategically directs them to the town Pokémon Center knowing they will come across information that will help Ash progress in his journey. Ash discovers that in order to participate in the Pokémon League Championships, he must gather badges earned only by defeating Pokémon Gym Leaders. He heads directly to the Pokémon Gym and challenges the Gym Leader, Brock, but suffers a terrible defeat. Flint encourages the disappointed Ash and provides him with some insight into Brock’s unusual situation. Brock must raise 10 brothers and sisters, all by himself, leaving him no foreseeable way in which to realize his dream of participating in the Pokémon League. Though Ash’s image of Brock, the powerful Gym Leader, crumbles, his desire to earn a badge is unchanged. Preparing to challenge Brock a second time, Ash gives Pikachu a unique, intense training session. Will the new improved Pikachu be victorious the second time around, and will Brock experience a twist of fate enabling him to fulfill his dream of participating in the Pokémon league? Episode 6: Clefairy and the Moon Stone Brock has joined Ash and Misty, as they continue on their path to Pokémon Greatness. First, they must find a short cut to Cerulean City, through the caves of Mt. Moon. Upon reaching Mt. Moon, our heroes witness a young researcher being attacked by a large number of Zubats. With Pikachu’s electric shock, they rescue the researcher at the mouth of the caves. Full of gratitude for their assistance, the researcher, Seymor, offers to guide them through the caves. Along the way they witness many injured Pokémon. The poor condition of these Pokémon has been brought about by explorers searching for a Moon Stone reported to exist somewhere within the caves of Mt. Moon. These precious stones posses the capability of 'powering up’ Pokémon. As more and more people come in search of these stones, the natural habitats of the Pokémon have become worse and worse leaving the Pokemon to fight for their daily survival. With the help of a group of the Pokémon Clefairy, our heroes defeat Team Rocket and witness the legendary Moon Stone work its magic on these enchanting Pokémon. Episode 7: The Water Flowers of Cerulean City In his search to collect Trainer Badges, Ash heads for Cerulean City, intending to confront the Cerulean Gym Leader. For some reason, Misty expresses a desire to avoid Cerulean City and disappears somewhere along the way. Without concern for Misty, Ash and Pikachu continue toward the Cerulean City Gym. When they arrive, the exterior of the Gym gives the strange appearance of an aquarium. Upon entering the building, Ash and Pikachu are entranced by a synchronized swimming show being performed by three beautiful sisters. Could this truly be the Cerulean Gym? And what could be the role of the three beautiful swimming sisters? More importantly, will Ash be able to defeat the strangely absent Gym Leader to earn his next badge? Episode 8: The Path to the Pokémon League After receiving his second badge, Ash sets off triumphantly for Vermilion City. Along the way, they hear of a trainer named A.J.—a fierce-Pokémon-trainer who has never lost a match. Full of self-confidence from his own record of ten victories in a row, Ash heads directly for the gym to find his new opponent. When they arrive, a huge bulletin in front of the gym announcing, "This Gym Not Authorized by the Pokémon League" along with a neon sign declaring "98 Consecutive Victories" appeal to Ash’s over-confidence. A.J. is on the brink of achieving his goal of 100 straight victories, after which he will embark on a journey to gather badges. Will victory fall on the side of Ash and his 10 straight victories or with A.J. and his string of 98? In the process, will Ash learn some important lessons about the bonds between Pokémon and trainer? Episode 9: The School of Hard Knocks Our three heroes have lost their way in the depths of a dense wood, shrouded in thick, white mist. Momentarily giving up, they decide to break for a brief rest. As Ash wanders deeper into the wood, searching for firewood, he happens across a young boy being bullied by five classmates gathered around him. Eavesdropping on their conversation, Ash learns that the boys are attending t he Pokémon Seminar (or 'Pokémon Zem’ for short) - a preparatory school for Pokémon trainers. Graduates from the Pokémon Seminar are automatically qualified to participate in the Pokémon League without undergoing any actual test of skill. Although many children dream of entering the illustrious Seminar (or rather their parents dream of them entering), only the most wealthy children can enter the school. But there must be a reason for the gloom overshadowing the faces of the students of this aristocratic school. Episode 10: Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village Still lost, the party continues to wander. Falling from a rope bridge, stumbling into pitfalls, being caught in various traps, they struggle on until reaching a village, not shown on their map, inhabited by Pokémon that have been injured in battle or abandoned by their masters. In this village, a kind-hearted young woman named Melanie cares for these Pokémon. Even as our heroes, touched by Melanie’s kind example, attempt to assist her in caring for the Pokémon, Team Rocket is slowly making its way toward the village. A combined effort of Melanie and Ash’s Pokémon is needed to battle and defeat Team Rocket, and as a result, Ash’s courage earns him a battle between Pikachu and Melanie’s bravest Pokémon, Bulbasaur. Will Pikachu defeat Bulbasaur, thus increasing Ash’s collection of Pokémon?