Ash Ketchum dreams of becoming the world's greatest Pokemon trainer. He is to be given a Pokemon by Professor Oak but arrives late. Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur were all chosen but there was one left, Pikachu. At first Pikachu didn't like Ash too much, but after an incident where Ash was about to get the crap pecked out of him by Spearows to save Pikachu, Pikachu started to like Ash. Ash rushed Pikachu to the Viridian City Pokemon Center. And he had Misty, the girl he stole a bike from, right behind him.
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Episode 2 "Pokemon Emergency!"
Pikachu is in bad shape after being beaten up by Spearows and Ash takes it to the Poke Center in Viridian. While waiting Ash talks to Prof. Oak via telephone and tells him he saw a Pokemon flying over a rainbow. Then Team Rocket debuts as the villains of the series and tries to get the sick Pokemon from the Pokemon Center with their Pokemon Koffing, Ekans, and Meowth. They are stopped by Ash's Pikachu who shocks them. Ash says goodbye and it's off through the Viridian Forest with Pikachu and Misty close behind.
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Episode 3 "Ash catches a Pokemon!"
Ash enters Viridian Forest and upon his arrival sees a Caterpie and captures it. Misty is scared by the cute little Caterpie (and bugs in general). As time goes by Ash catches a Pidgeotto. Then the usual attack of Team Rocket comes and they try to steal Pikachu. But Caterpie beats Koffing, Ekans, and Meowth. It got a ton of experience from them and evolved into Metapod.
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Episode 4 "Samurai Showdown"
Ash is still wandering through Viridian Forest when he finds a Weedle and battles it. He is about to capture it when a samurai shows up and distracts him. His Pinsir defeats Pidgeotto but then cannot beat Metapod. Metapod has to face the samurai's Metapod next and they just use Harden repeatedly. Then the match is stopped by a swarm of Beedrills. The Beedrills trap the samurai, Ash, and Misty in a cabin and take Metapod captive. In the morning Ash goes to retrieve Metapod but Team Rocket wakes up all the Beedrills. Ash evaded the Beedrills and they chased Team Rocket. Matapod then saved Ash from a stray Beedrill and Metapod evolved into Butterfreeand used it's Sleep Powder to knock the Beedrills and Team Rocket out. It's off to Pewter City!
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Episode 5 "Showdown in Pewter City"
Ash goes and heals his Pokemon and tries to defeat Brock, the Pewter Gym leader. Pikachu gets whooped by Brock's Onix and then Ash follows a man to an old shack. The man shows Ash how Brock has to take care of all of his brothers and sisters. Then they take Pikachu to a watermill and power him up using some weird machine. The next day Ash goes to battle Brock again. Pidgeotto gets beat by Geodude, then Geodude gets whooped by Pikachu, then Onix is about to beat Pikachu when Brock tells it to stop because he didn't want to hurt Pikachu. Then the sprinklers go off and Onix is severely weakened but Ash doesn't have the heart to hurt it. As Ash is leaving Brock gives him a BoulderBadge and joins Ash on his quest because he wants to be a great Pokemon breeder. The man Ash saw earlier was Brock's father who left home long ago and he said he would take care of the family while Brock was away.
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Episode 6 "Clefairy and the Moon Stone"
Ash and the gang come across Mt. Moon and they see a scientist being attacked by Zubats. Pikachu shocks the Zubats and saves the scientist and Ash doesn't notice at first but Brock captures one of the Zubats. The scientist says he is looking for a Moon Stone which Clefairys supposedly came to Earth on. Then Team Rocket shows up and admits to disturbing the habitat of the Pokemon of Mt. Moon. Then as they are escaping Onix derails them. Then Pikachu and a Clefairy lead the way to a cavern in Mt. Moon and in it is the Moon Stone and a bunch of Clefairys dancing around it. Then Team Rocket tries to snag it but as usual fail and the Moon Stone splits up and transforms some of the Clefairy into Clefables and the scientist says he will live with the Clefairy and protect the Moon Stone.
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Episode 7 "The Water Flowers of Cerulean City"
Misty doesn't want to go to Cerulean and deserts Ash and Brock. Then Ash goes to Cerulean Gym and finds that the gym leaders are 3 sisters that are synchronized swimmers. Ash wants to battle them but their Pokemon are all injured from 3 losses to kids from Pallet. They are about to give Ash the CascadeBadge when Misty shows up and says she is the fourth sister and she battles Ash. The battle is interrupted by Team Rocket who steal the pool water but end up getting sucked into their own machine and get flung into the air somewhere. Then the sisters give Ash the CascadeBadge for saving their Pokemon and Ash and the gang head for Vermilion City.
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Episode 8 "The Path to the Pokemon League"
Ash gets overconfident in his Pokemon training abilities and he challenges A.J., a harsh trainer who's won 98 consecutive matches. Ash easily gets defeated, but he then accuses A.J. of being too harsh a trainer, and basically acts like a sore loser. Team Rocket appears to try to capture Pikachu, but they end up capturing A.J.'s Sandshrew instead, and as a result A.J. challenges them and defeats them, marking that victory as his 100th win. A.J. and Ash make up their differences, and they go their seperate ways.
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Episode 9 "The School of Hard Knocks"
On their way to Vermillion City, Ash and his friends encounter some students from Pokemon Technical, a school that teaches Pokemon training and fighting teachniques and that allows, upon graduation, permission to enter the Pokemon League without travelling to collect all the badges. Ash and the others take offence at the arrogance of the students, and are challenged by Giselle, the best beginning-rank student. She defeats Misty's Starmie with her Graveller, a Pokemon weak against water. Ash then challenges her, and she matches Cubone, a Fighting-type Pokemon, against Pikachu. After a long and difficult battle, Pikachu defeats Cubone, humbling Giselle. Team Rocket shows up again, but the Pokemon Tech students chase them away, and Ash and his friends leave for Vermillion City, with a promise to challenge Giselle again someday when they are more experienced.
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Episode 10 "Bulbasaur and the Hidden Village"
Ash and his companions become lost in the forest when trying to take a shortcut to Vermillion City. Along the way, they find an Oddish drinking at a pool. Misty tries to capture it, but a Bulbasaur appears to defend it. Bulbasaur defeats both Starmie and Butterfree, and escapes with Oddish. When Ash and the others try to follow them, they encounter numerous traps which slow them down, including a collapsing bridge, a pit, and a net. Eventually, they reach a cabin in the woods. The cabin belongs to Melanie, who provides it as a resting place for abandoned Pokemon. Bulbasaur volunteered to protect the Pokemon who stay here, and is angry that Ash and his friends are at the cabin. When Team Rocket shows up, however, Ash helps Bulbasaur to save the other Pokemon and chase off Team Rocket once again. Grateful for his help, Melanie offers to give Bulbasaur to Ash... but Bulbasaur will only do it if Ash defeats him in a Pokemon battle. Ash sends Pikachu, and after a short battle, Pikachu stuns Bulbasaur and Ash catches him. With Bulbasaur as his fourth Pokemon, Ash and his friends leave Melanie and the other Pokemon behind, to continue on to Vermillion City.
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Episode 11 "Charmander the Stray Pokemon"
Still unable to find the way to Vermillion City, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu encounter a Charmander sitting on a rock in the forest. Charmander looks tired and hurt, but refuses to accompany Ash to the nearby Pokemon Center because he is waiting for his trainer to come back. Reluctantly, they leave him there and continue to the Pokemon Center. There they discover that Charmander's trainer, Damian, abandoned Charmander and has no intention of coming back. Ash and his friends return to rescue Charmander just as he is becoming weak. They bring him back to the Pokemon Center to recover, but Charmander escapes into the morning, intending to return to the rock to wait for Damian. Meanwhile, Team Rocket builds another trap intended to catch Pikachu; instead, Ash and the others fall in, leaving Pikachu alone. Jessie and James are wearing suits to protect them from Pikachu's electrical attacks, and capture him. However, Charmander appears and defeats Team Rocket, saving Pikachu. Damian tries to get Charmander back, but he chooses to go with Ash instead, and Ash accepts him.
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Episode 12 "Here comes the Squirtle Squad"
Ash and the others are the victims of another pit-trap... but this one was set by a gang of Squirtles which has been terrorizing a nearby town. Team Rocket also encounters the Squirtle Squad, but Meowth convinces them to help Team Rocket capture Pikachu. Ash, Pikachu, and their friends are captured by the Squirtles and Meowth. Pikachu is hurt, though, and the Squirtles let Ash go to town to get a healing potion for him. With a little help from Jenny the cop, he manages to get back just in time to see Team Rocket betray the Squirtles. Ash helps the Squirtles defeat Team Rocket and win back the trust of the town. The strongest Squirtle, impressed by Ash's trust and assistance, decides to join him.
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Episode 13 "Mystery at the Lighthouse"
Still horribly lost, Ash and his friends find a lighthouse inhabited by Bill, a Pokemon researcher whose expertise rivals even Professor Oak's. They find out that beyond the oceans lives an enourmous Pokemon that no one has ever seen. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is trying to get to the lighthouse by climbing the cliff that it's on, and they have face-to-face with the legendary Pokemon Bill was talking about. Wanting to capture it, they try to weaken it by shooting at them, but they end up chasing it away. Bill hopes that one day the Pokemon will return, and Ash and his friends continue on to Vermillion City (or try to).
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Episode 14 "Electric Shock Showdown"
Ash and his friends finally make it to Vermillion City! While Pikachu recovers at the Pokemon Center, they notice that there are many injured Pokemon there, and they find out that it's because the local Gym Leader, Lt. Surge, keep on defeating all his challengers with his Pokemon, Raichu. Pikachu and Ash go to the Gym to challenge Lt. Surge, but Pikachu gets completely defeated by Raichu, and he ends up in the Pokemon Center's recovery room. Nurse Joy suggests that Pikachu evolve into Raichu to be stronger, but Pikachu refuses. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is spying on Ash and his friends, and they're touched by Pikachu's determination. Ash and Pikachu challenge Lt. Surge again, and Pikachu uses his agility to counter Raichu's attacks and manages to defeat her. Lt. Surge and Raichu awards Ash with the Thunder badge and congratulate them for their work."Drat, we wasted this whole episode cheering for the good guys!" Team Rocket quote.
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Episode 15 "Battle Aboard the St. Anne"
While travelling, Ash and his friends are approached by two schoolgirls who offer them tickets for the St. Anne, where a huge Pokemon convention will take place. They gladly accept the tickets, but little do they know that the ones who offered them are Jessie and James of Team Rocket! Their plan was to invite many Pokemon trainers and steal their Pokemon while they're at sea. On board, Ash has Butterfree fight a Pokemon trainer who has Raticate. The trainer ends up goading him into trading the two Pokemon. Ash hesitates because he's been with Butterfree since the start, but he trades anyway. Meanwhile, after James gets suckered into spending both his and Jessie's paycheck on Magikarp. A bunch of Team Rocket members then attack the ship's passengers, stealing their Pokemon, but the trainers unite their Pokemon and manage to defeat them. Ash manages to get his Butterfree back. However, a storm hits the ship, and it sinks while Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket are still inside!
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Episode 16 "Pokemon Shipwreck"
Still trapped aboard the now sunken St. Anne, Ash and his friends declare an uneasy truce with Team Rocket in order to find a way to get back to dry land. After managing to avoid some disasters in the engine room, they end up adrift on a make-shift raft, nearly starving to death. James, who still has his useless Pokemon Magikarp, takes out his frustration by kicking it in the water; however, Magikarp evolves into Gyarados before his eyes, and Gyarados uses his legendary attack "Dragon Rage" blowing everyone up in a tremendous water spout......
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Episode 17 "Island of the Giant Pokemon"
Awakening on the beach of a deserted island, Ash and his friends find themselves to be alright... with the exception of Pikachu and several of Ash's other Pokemon, who've disappeared. Team Rocket finds themselves in a similar situation, alive but missing Meowth and their own Pokemon. Meanwhile, the missing Pokemon are wandering around the island, searching for their trainers. Everyone encounters giant Pokemon, who seem to rule the island and are unwelcoming to strangers. Even Ash's Pokemon have a hard time communicating with the giant Pokemon. After an encounter with a run-away mine cart, all of the humans are reunited with their Pokemon. The monster-sized Pokemon are revealed to be nothing more than giant robots, part of a theme park called "Pokemon Land". Ash, Misty, Brock and Pikachu reach the seaside city of Porta Vista, and head into town to get some much needed rest...
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Episode 18 "Tentacool and Tentacruel"
Unable to catch a ferry to the mainland, Ash and his friends are stranded in Porta Vista. They witness the destruction of a ship in the harbour, and eventually get asked by Nastina, a local millionare and general "old hag", to rid them of the Tentacools in the harbour. Misty is outraged, but Team Rocket shows up to take the offer. They screw up as usual, but manage to cause one of the tentacools to evolve into a gigantic Tentacruel, which proceeds to demolish Porta Vista. The sea creatures are enraged because Nastina is destroying their homes. With the help of a Horsea she rescued earlier, Misty convinces the Tentacools and Tentacruel to leave the city in peace. With everything back to normal, Ash and his friends catch a ferry to the mainland...
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Episode 19 "The Ghost of Maiden's Peak"
The ferry that they boarded stops at a town that is celebrating their Summer's End festival, where they discover the legend of a maiden who turned to stone 2000 years ago while waiting for her love to return. Brock sees the ghost of the maiden and falls in love with her. Meanwhile, Team Rocket had sort-of stowed away with the ferry, and James sees the same ghost that Brock saw, and also falls in love with her. An old woman appears, telling them to forget their love for the ghost since it could only bring them doom, but the two can't resist the ghost's lure. Ash, his friends, and Team Rocket discover that the ghost and the old woman aren't all who they seem, and that they're really Gastly, a ghost Pokemon, who's impersonating the maiden to cause trouble. Ash's Pokemon and Team Rocket's Pokemon try to defeat Gastly, but he keeps beating them. However, once the sun comes up, Gastly leaves, promising that the maiden will return next summer.
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Episode 20 "Bye-Bye Butterfree"
Ash and his friends arrive at the place where Butterfrees find mates. Ash sends out his Butterfree to find a mate, but all the Butterfree's reject him. He finds a cute pink Butterfree who he really likes, but she absolutely rejects him. Ash and his friends try to encourage him to keep trying, and as he's out there trying to court the pink Butterfree, Team Rocket shows up and captures all the Butterfrees. Ash and his friends manage to defeat Team Rocket and Butterfree wins the love of the pink Butterfree. Thw two Butterfrees leave Ash and his friends, and Ash wishes them the best of luck, even if he's sad that the first Pokmeon he ever captured is leaving him.
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Episode 21 "Abra and the Psychic Showdown"
Ash and his friends arrive in Saffron City, where they see a strange girl who almost causes Ash an accident. As they go through the city gates, two girls in Hawaiian dress show up and trick them into going in a room through a warp tile from which they can't escape; it turns out the two girls are Jessie and James, and before they can get away with the captured Pikachu the mysterious girl shows up, paralyzes them and teleports Ash and his friends and Pikachu to safety. Outside the Saffron City gym, a man warns Ash not to challenge Sabrina, the Gym Leader, but Ash doesn't listen and challenges her. The little girl that freed them is actually a doll that Sabrina owns, and with her Abra (who she evolves into Kadabra during the battle), she defeats Pikachu and traps Ash and his friends in a doll house using her telekinetic powers. They escape thanks to the man who warned them earlier, and after a brief telekinetic struggle, he tells Ash that the only chance he has to defeat Sabrina is to get a Ghost Pokemon from Lavender Town. So, Ash and his friends leave for Lavender Town...
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Episode 22 "The Tower of Terror"
Ash and his friends arrive at Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town, an eerie and foreboding place where they hope to catch a Ghost Pokemon. Misty, Brock, and Pikachu are reluctant to go inside, but Ash convinces them to go in. Once inside, they are soon assaulted by Gengar, Haunter and Gastly, three Ghost Pokemon who always cause trouble to the tower's visitors. Misty and Brock leave the tower, but Ash and Pikachu keep trying to capture them. As Ash and Pikachu discover, the three Ghosts are simply lonely Pokemon who want someone to play with. When Ash and Pikachu are struck by a falling chandelier, the three Ghosts take their spirits on a flight around the town. Eventually, Ash and Pikachu return to their bodies, and leave the Tower, deciding not to catch any of the Ghosts after all. As they leave, Haunter follows them all out of town, wanting to return a favour to Ash for playing with him.
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Episode 23 "Haunter Versus Kadabra"
Armed with a new Ghost Pokemon called Haunter, Ash returns to Saffron City for a rematch with Sabrina. When he goes in to fight Sabrina, however, Haunter has disappeared! Ash and the others run away, but Misty and Brock are transformed into dolls by Sabrina's power. Ash is again rescued by the man who saved them earlier, and he reveals himself to be Sabrina's father (although Ash is too dense to get the hints). After having a little fun with Team Rocket, Haunter rejoins Ash, but he seems unwilling to fight Sabrina. Ash convinces him, however, and they go back to Sabrina's gym one last time. Haunter disappears again, and Ash surrenders, prepared to be turned into a doll. Pikachu defends Ash, however, and fights valiantly against Kadabra. Haunter appears as the battle wears on, and by teasing Sabrina, he breaks her emotionless state and causes her to laugh. Because Sabrina's mind is controlling Kadabra, the Psychic Pokemon can no longer fight, rolling on the floor in laughter. Sabrina's father awards Ash with the Marshbadge, and they leave town in peace.
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Episode 24 "Primeape goes Bananas"
After a conversation, Ash is depressed to learn that his fellow trainers from Pallet Town are already a badge ahead of him, and that they have all caught many more Pokemon than he has. When a Mankey appears, attracted by the scent of Brock's lunch, Ash decides he wants to catch it. When he fails to do so, Mankey is infuriated, and steals Ash's cap; Ash desperately tries to retrieve it, since it is an official Pokemon League cap, but fails to do so. Team Rocket shows up again to catch Pikachu. They anger Mankey, who evolves into Primeape, an even more violent Pokemon. Ash is determined to defeat the angry Pokemon and capture it. He sends Charmander, who uses his Rage attack to get stronger as Primeape attacks him. Eventually, Primeape is defeated, and Ash captures him, adding to his collection.
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Episode 25 "Pokemon Scent-Sation"
Arriving in Celadon City, Brock, Misty, and Pikachu stop in a perfume shop. Ash is not impressed, however, and ends up insulting the local gym leader, Erika, who is also a perfume maker. He is forced to work with Team Rocket in order to sneak into the Celadon Gym so he can battle for the Rainbowbadge. Jessie and James, meanwhile, are trying to steal the secret perfume formula of the Celadon Gym and use it to make lots of money. Ash has his battle with Erika, but during the battle, Team Rocket sets off an explosion which sets the gym on fire. Ash helps Erika and the others to save the Pokemon in the gym, including Erika's own plant-Pokemon, Gloom. She gifts him with the Rainbowbadge to thank him for helping to save her friends.
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Epidode 26 "Hypno's Naptime"
Children are disappearing from the city that Ash and his companions arrive in, and Pokemon are becoming lethargic and inactive. Tracking the source, the gang discovers Drowzee and Hypno, two psychic Pokemon who can hypnotize people and Pokemon alike. Misty gets affected by Hypno, and starts to believe she is a Seel. Her friends chase her as she runs into a park, where they find the other children, who all believe they're different Pokemon. With the help of Drowzee, Ash and Brock manage to heal all the children and Pokemon. One Pokemon, however, a duck Pokemon named Psyduck, decides to follow after them and become Misty's Pokemon, much to her disgust...
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Episode 27 "Pokemon Fashion Flash"
While travelling through the city, Ash and the others enter the fashion district. Brock drags everyone into a salon owned by Suzie, a Pokemon breeder like himself. Her Pokemon, Vulpix, is one of the most beautiful Pokemon in the world. Misty, however, is more interested in a Pokemon makeover for Psyduck, which is available at the new Salon Rocket. Unbeknownst to them, however, Salon Rocket is operated by Team Rocket, who intend to make lots of money (again). They kidnap Misty; Psyduck goes for help, and Ash and Brock rush to her rescue. Team Rocket's Pokemon nearly defeat Pikachu and Geodude, but Suzie intervenes, and with Vulpix's help, she completely blows Team Rocket away. Suzie decides to go on a journey to learn more about Pokemon breeding, and leaves Vulpix in Brock's capable hands.
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Episode 28 "The Punchy Pokemon"
During their travels, Ash and his friends encounter Hitmonchan, a fighting-type Pokemon, who will be entered in a Pokemon fighting competition called the P-1 Grand Prix. Rebecca, the daughter of Hitmonchan's trainer, wants Ash and the others to defeat her father so that he'll come home instead of spending all his time training Pokemon. Team Rocket wants to enter the competition as well, and steal a Hitmonlee, another fighting Pokemon, in order to enter the battle. The competition is long and difficult, but after Team Rocket defeats Hitmonchan, their Hitmonlee and Primeape, Ash's entry in the competition, reach the finals. Team Rocket tries to cheat, but Pikachu prevents them, and Primeape wins the battle, winning the championship. Anthony, Hitmonchan's trainer, offers to train Primeape to be the ultimate champion; Ash accepts, and he and Primeape say their goodbyes to each other.
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Episode 29 "Sparks Fly For Magnemite"
In Gringy City, an industrial burg, Pikachu falls ill and is rushed to the Pokemon Center by Ash and his friends. Nurse Joy believes he simply has a cold, but suddenly the power goes out. The city power plant has shut down for unknown reasons. Ash and the others rush to the power plant to find out the reason why. While there, they discover that Magnemite, a mechanical Pokemon of the electric type, is following Pikachu around as though it were in love. The cause of the power failure is an abundance of Grimers, sludge-based Pokemon who have clogged up the water intake for the power plant. Led by a powerful Muk, the Grimers nearly take over the whole plant. However, hordes of Magnetons, led by the Magnemite and which live in the plant, attack the Grimers and drive them back. Pikachu and Magnemite team up to defeat the powerful Muk, and Ash captures it, adding to his collection. Power is restored, and Pikachu recovers from his illness; it seems that he was over-charged, and the extra electricity that was making him sick was used up in the battle.
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Episode 30 "Dig Those Diglett"
En route to Fuchsia City, Ash and his friends encounter a construction project in the middle of the forest. A dam is being built here, but the project is threatened by Digletts, cute mole-like Pokemon who live underground. The tunnels they dig are disrupting the construction project. Dozens of Pokemon trainers are called in to assist in removing the Digletts, including Gary and his admirers; whenever the trainers try to call forth their Pokemon, however, they refuse to come out. Eventually, all the trainers give up and go home. Ash and the others, remaining behind, discover that the Digletts are only trying to save their home from destruction, as the dam's completion would mean their home would be washed away. The trainer's Pokemon realize this, and refuse to help harm the Digletts. The project's leader decides to stop the project, but Team Rocket and their recently-evolved Pokemon, Arbok and Weezing, intervene. With the help of the Digletts, Team Rocket is beaten back again, and Ash and his friends continue on to Fuchsia City.
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Episode 31 "The Ninja Poke-Showdown"
Near Fuchsia City, Ash, Misty, and Brock encounter a strange Japanese castle. Inside, they discover that the castle is actually the training grounds for a clan of ninja Pokemon trainers, led by Koga, the Fuchsia City gym leader. Team Rocket appears to try and steal more Pokemon, but Misty's Psyduck ends up saving the day, despite his headache. Ash defeats Koga's poison-type Pokemon in a difficult battle, and they continue onwards to the Safari Zone.
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Episode 32 "The Flame Pokemon-athon"
On the way to the Safari Zone, Ash passes through a ranch owned by Lara Larame, a famous Pokemon breeder. She intends to race her fire Pokemon, Ponyta, in a Pokemon race in a few days, but a rival breeder named Dario has other plans. He hires Team Rocket to ensure his victory in the race. They end up causing Lara to break her arm, and Ash has to take her place in the race. The race is long and fierce, with Team Rocket's booby traps catching many of the participants; in the end, however, Ash's determination to win the race for Lara causes Ponyta to evolve into Rapidash, and he beats Dario by a "nose".
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Episode 33 "The Kangaskhan Kid"
In the Safari Zone, Ash and his friends are mistaken for poachers; the real poachers, however, are Team Rocket, and they almost capture a whole herd of Kangaskhan. The Pokemon are saved by a young boy, Tomo, the Kangaskhan Kid. His parents appear at the Safari Zone, looking to take him back, after losing him in the park many years ago. The Kangaskhan Kid is unwilling to leave his new foster Pokemon-parents, however. Eventually, after Team Rocket tries again to capture the Kangaskhans, the boy's parents decide to stay with him in the Safari Zone, so that everyone will be happy.
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