#81 FRIENDS TO THE END

Last episode, Ash made friends with another young trainer named Ritchie. Unfortunately, they both had to face each other in a Pokémon battle. After a tough fight, they end up choosing their final Pokémon. Ritchie picks his Pikachu named Sparky and Ash takes a chance on his Charizard. Although the giant lizard is very powerful, he’s also stubborn and lazy. Before the match is over, he decides to take it easy and rest. The referee decides that the Charizard has forfeited the match and declares Ritchie the winner.

Later, as Ash mopes in his cot in the Pokémon Village, his mother, Prof. Oak, Misty, and Brock discuss the match. They don’t think that Ash has any reason to be depressed. After all, he made it to the fifth round of the Pokémon Competition and very few people can do that.

This is the very thing that Misty tells Ash when she enters his bedroom. But, Ash, still feeling sorry for himself, does nothing but argue. Although the rest of the group tries to break up the argument, only a shock from Pikachu can finally snap Ash out of his blue funk. It also causes the TV to turn on. When Ash notices the coverage of the Pokémon Competition, he immediately thinks of Ritchie.

Sitting alone in the stadium locker room, Ritchie contemplates his upcoming match. Soon, Ash, Misty, and Brock appear to wish him good luck. Ritchie is so pleased to see Ash that he vows to win his match for the both of them. Misty tells him not to choke like Ash did, which makes the trainer from Pallet Town only a little angry.

Even though Ritchie is allowed to use six Pokémon, he has a tough time in the match. Eventually, his opponent’s Ivysaur throttles Sparky and the battle is over. Ash can’t believe that Ritchie lost too.

Later in a field by a lake, Ash and Ritchie console each other over their mutual losses. Nearby, Sparky and Pikachu frolic in the tall grass AND Team Rocket lurks in the shadows with shovels. The two friends vow to train as hard as they can and become Pokémon Master no matter what. Walking back to the Pokémon Village, they stumble into a trap dug by Jessie and James.

At first, it looks like Team Rocket is going to get away with the two Pikachus, but Ash and Ritchie team up and use their Pokémon to escape from the trap and defeat the pathetic villains.

Soon, Misty and Brock appear and invite the two friends to dinner. Afterwards, they all attend the closing ceremonies of the Pokémon Competition. Ash and Ritchie march into the stadium with the rest of the competitors and enjoy the tumultuous applause of the audience. All of the competitors receive special commemorative badges so that they will always remember how well they did in the competition.

The next day, Ash and Ritchie say good-bye in the empty stadium. They remind each other of their vow to become Pokémon Masters no matter what.

#82 PALLET PARTY PANIC

Returning home after the Pokémon Competition, Ash is honored at a party at Professor Oak’s house. Ash thanks all of the people of Pallet Town for supporting him and Professor Oak commends him for representing their town so well. The partygoers enjoy themselves, especially Brock who is stuffing his face with all the good food. Misty suggests that they invite all their Pokémon to the party, since they all helped Ash to get to the Pokémon Competition. Brock and Ash agree and the three friends release all of their Pokémon except one: Charizard. Misty asks Ash if he really wants to let Charizard out of his Pokéball. After a moment’s consideration, Ash decides to invite the troublesome dragon to the next party.

Inside the caterer’s tent, Team Rocket cooks up some spicy refreshments for the party. They hand three meals over to Ash, who then turns around and gives them to his two friends. While Brock digs in, Misty gives her food to her Pokémon. The spicy food causes everyone to run around searching for water. In the confusion, Team Rocket snatches Pikachu and escapes in their balloon. They prevent any pursuit by dropping bombs on the party.

Left with no other choice, Ash lets Charizard out of his Pokéball. In his nicest possible voice, the young trainer asks the dragon to save Pikachu. But, the fire-breathing Pokémon has other plans. He wants to devour a table full of food. Just as he’s about to satisfy his hunger, one of Team Rocket’s bombs destroys all of the delicious goodies. Angry, Charizard soars into the air, subdues Team Rocket and rescues Pikachu. Returning to earth, he cavorts about so much that he destroys everything left standing after Jessie and James’ aerial bombing.

Meanwhile, Jessie, James, and Meowth crash into a tree filled with Pidgeys and Pidgeottos. Trying to escape, they’re attacked by a band of Spearows led by a huge Fearow.

Back at Professor Oak’s lab, the scientist finishes treating Ash’s Pidgeotto who was injured fighting Team Rocket. Pallet's leading scientist asks Ash and his friends a favor. He needs someone to go to Valencia Island in the Orange Archipelago. Professor Ivy has discovered a mysterious Pokéball and Professor Oak needs somebody to retrieve it for him. Ash, Misty, and Brock agree to this mission. In a short time, they’ve packed their things and head off into the forest.

Once they get deep in the woods, however, the trio encounters the group of Spearows that was menacing Jessie and James. They are led by a very large Fearow with personal grudge against Ash. (This is the same Pokémon that Ash threw a rock at in the very first Pokémon episode). To get to Valencia Island, Ash has to devise a plan to defeat the Fearow and, believe it or not, rescue Team Rocket.

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#83 SNOW WAY OUT!

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu are walking through the countryside when they come upon a fork in the road. Ash suggests that they go one direction, but Brock objects. That way leads through the mountains, he says. Ignoring the warning, the young trainer from Pallet leads his friends down his chosen path.

Soon, the three friends discover that the way ahead if covered in a thick blanket of snow. As the road winds up the side of a mountain, Brock checks their position with a compass. But the needle spins wildly. Brock theorizes that the mountain must be filled with iron and is therefore interfering with the compass. He also announces that because of this, they're hopelessly lost.

Nearby, Team Rocket watches the young travelers. While Meowth and James shiver from the cold, Jessie revels in the wonderful snow. She reminisces about her childhood and how her mother used to make wonderful meals out of snow--snow sushi, snow roles, etc. Her partners in crime think that she is nuts, then Meowth gets a brilliant idea. If they inflate their hot air balloon, not only will they be able to follow Ash and his friends, they can also enjoy the warmth of the hot air blower. Before the trio can reap the benefits of Meowth's brainstorm, though, their Meowth-shaped balloon floats away.

Now a blizzard has started in the mountains and the young trainers are slogging through deep drifts of snow. Exhausted, Ash collapses. Brock suggests that they dig into the drift to stay warm. Just then, the snow collapses beneath Pikachu and the little electric mouse slides down the mountain. Ash chases after his Pokémon. When he finally rescues him, he discovers that Misty and Brock are nowhere to be seen.

In order to protect himself and his Pokémon, Ash urges Charmander to clear out a cave in the snow with his flamethrower. Then, with the help of all the Pokémon, Ash seals up the entrance. For a little while, the all warm themselves over Charmander's flaming tale, but eventually Ash tells all of his Pokémon to stay in their Pokéballs where its nice and warm. They all go, except Pikachu who wants to stay with his trainer.

Elsewhere, Team Rocket tries to keep warm in an igloo. This proves to be a difficult task with Jessie preparing elaborate meals of ice cold snow.

In the morning, Ash and his Pokémon climb out of their cave. They find Misty and Brock, who spent the night near a nice hot spring. They also find Team Rocket's balloon slumped against the mountainside. In a matter of minutes, they have the balloon inflated and are sailing towards their next destination.

Where's Team Rocket? They're sitting happily in a hot spring. Every time they try to get out, they're immediately reminded of how cold it is outside and slip back into the water.