GS015: Fighting Flyer with Fire

Fighting Flyer with Fire (Japanese: キキョウジム！大空の戦い！！, Hepburn: Violet Gym! Sky Battle!!) is the 15th episode of Pokémon: The Johto Journeys.

Synopsis

The time has come for Ash to have his first Gym Battle in the Johto region, only to have it interrupted when Team Rocket steals Pikachu. Just then a trainer appears and steals Pikachu back and uses his Pidgeot to stop Team Rocket. Ash was impressed the way the trainer used his Pidgeot, reminding him of his own. The trainer introduces himself as Falkner, leader of the Violet City Gym. Ash may have been grateful to him for rescuing Pikachu, but that wouldn't mean he would go easy on him. Will Ash soar and win his first badge, or will he crash and burn?

Episode Plot

The heroes came to the Gym of Violet City. The heroes are excited to meet the Gym Leader and are about to go in, but Team Rocket stop them (disguised) and want to ask them questions before going inside. They claim they are from an agency called Poké Buro. They take Pikachu and tell they need to confiscate it and run away. They appear in the balloon and take off their disguises. Pikachu uses Thundershock, but the cage it is put in is electric proof. Ash sends Heracross to deal with them, but Meowth drops a jar, so Heracross licks the tree sap inside it. Suddenly, the heroes see a man riding a glide, whose Hoothoot takes the cage from Jessie's hands. The heroes worry that man is a thief as well. Hoothoot returns to him and gives Pikachu, then goes to land down.

Jessie's Arbok uses Poison Sting to rip the glider. The man falls down, but sends Pidgot, who saves him. Pidgeot dodges Arbok's Poison Sting and pierces the balloon, causing an usual blast off of Team Rocket. The man comes down and gives Ash Pikachu, who thanks him. Ash remebers that he had a Pidgeot and battled Fearow, knowing that he'll have to go see his friend. The man knows that feeling of battling with Pidgeot in the sky and knows Ash'll find his Pidgeot someday. Misty notices the man likes Flying-type Pokémon and he confirms, wanting to fly through the sky. The man is angry at hearing statements that Electric-type Pokémon best Flying-type Pokémon, making Misty feel the same way about Water-type Pokémon. The heroes introduce themselves, while the man is Falkner, the Gym Leader of Violet City, making the heroes surprised at that last part.

Falker sees it is strange to meet new friends before battling them, but knows he has to battle Ash any other way. The heroes came to the top of the building and see Falker's team. Brock asks Ash if he is okay and he confirms, knowing he came to battle, not to be cheered for. Ash tells Falkner that he should give him the badge. Falkner responds that he is not sure about that, wanting to prove the strength of Flying-type Pokémon he sends Hoothoot. Ash sends Chikorita (who hugs him) and Falkner is disappointed, as Grass-type Pokémon are weak against Flying-type Pokémon, but Ash thought that type is not the only factor that counts. Chikorita starts with Vine Whip, though Hoothoot flies away. Hoothoot evades another Vine Whip and dives, hitting Chikorita, then pecks her. Chikorita uses Razor Leaf, but Hoothoot dodges and gives. Chikorita evades, but Hoothoot dives once more and hits Chikorita, defeating her. Ash calls Chikorita back, while Falker tells him he warned him Grass-type Pokémon don't have much chance of defeating his Flying-type Pokémon.

Ash sends Pikachu, who is battle ready. Hoothoot goes to tackle Pikachu, but Pikachu uses Agility. Hoothoot flies off, but gets electrocuted by Thunderbolt, then defeats it using Quick Attack. Falkner calls Hoothoot back, then sends a Dodrio in its place. Falkner announces that trainers have not defeated Dodrio. Ash tells it is no surprise that Dodrio cannot fly, but Falkner responds that he is mistaken. Pikachu uses Agility and Dodrio does so as well. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but Dodrio escapes by jumping (making Brock and Ash see that it jumps so high it seems as if she flies). Dodrio uses Drill Peck, wounding Pikachu. Dodrio goes to use Tri Attack, but Pikachu jumps on her and hits her using Thunder. Dodrio stands up, but falls defeated. Ash cheers, while Falkner calls Dodrio back.

Falkner sends his ace, Pidgeot. Ash asks Pikachu if he wants to return back, but Pikachu does not want to and stays. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but Pidgeot flies away, while Pikachu is too weak to reach Pidgeot. With a Whirlwind, Pikachu is defeated. Ash places Pikachu near himself and sends Charizard, making Falkner see it is going to get interesting. Charizard and Pidgeot fly away. Charizard uses Flamethrower, but misses Pidgeot, who uses Agility. Falkner advises Ash to surrender, but Ash refuses. Charizard uses Flamethrower, but gets hit by its own attack, as it is repelled by Pidgeot's Whirlwind. Pidgeot uses Wing Attack and Charizard attempts to fly, but its wing is damaged, so it takes Pidgeot's attack. Charizard takes more hits, so Falkner tells Ash to forfeit, since it is a trainer's responsibility to know when the Pokémon cannot battle anymore, since Charizard cannot fly. Ash tells he and Charizard do not quit, so Falkner thinks the next thing will teach him a lesson.

Pidgeot goes to use Quick Attack, but Charizard manages to fly away. Pidgeot uses Agility, then uses Quick Attack to injure Charizard. Pidgoet continues this strategy. Ash sees they might have a chance if Pidgeot keeps using same moves. Charizard goes to Pidgoet, who uses Agility. However, Charizard turns around and engulfs it in flames via Fire Spin. Charizard takes it and throws it to the ground via Seismic Toss, making it defeated. Ash cheers for Charizard and his victory. Later, Falkner gives Ash the Zephyr Badge. Falkner admits that battling with him has gotten him more will to train and become the Number 1 Flying-type Pokémon trainer. Ash wishes luck to him and shakes hands, then departs with Misty and Brock away. Meanwhile, Team Rocket get pecked by Spearow, while Meowth sees this ending is for birds.

Debuts

Character

Falkner

Pokémon

• Falkner's Dodrio
• Falkner's Hoothoot
• Falkner's Pidgeot

Move

• Tri Attack
• Fly
• Drill Peck

Item

Zephyr Badge

Quotes

"These are my friends, Misty and Brock, and I'm Ash." - Ash

"And I'm Falkner, the Violet City Gym Leader, hi." - Falkner

"Did he say Gym Leader?!" - Brock

"That's what he said." - Misty

"I suppose I should have mentioned that to you earlier." - Falkner

"Charizard! Quick, turn around and use Fire Spin!" - Ash

"You used Pidgeot's speed to your advantage, that was an excellent strategy. Well, this is what you came here for, the Zephyr Badge is yours, you've earned it." - Falkner

Trivia

• The English dub name is a reference to the idion "fighting fire with fire".
• This was the final American episode of the 20th century.
• This episode was the first where, and in every Gym Battle episode from this point on, there would be an official gym referee to judge the battles.
• This is one of the few episodes where both Ash and the Gym Leader's Pokémon have their original Japanese voices crossed over to the English-language dub.
• The Johto Champion theme is heard playing when Ash's Charizard and Falkner's Pidgeot begin fighting against each other.
• The "Who's that Pokémon?" in this episode is Marill.

Mistakes

During Ash's flashback, he says that the Fearow was attacking a group of Pidgeot. The Fearow was actually attacking a group of Pidgey and Pigeotto.

Gallery

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