GS027: Going Apricorn!

Going Apricorn! (Japanese: クヌギダマとボングリのみ！うらやまのたたかい！！, Hepburn: Truth of Pineco and Pokémon! Reverse Side Mountain Battle!!) is the 27th episode of Pokémon: The Johto Journeys.

Synopsis

After the craziness of the last episode, Ash and co. settle in with Kurt and his granddaughter Maisy and as a thank you for the GS Ball Kurt gives each of our heroes a Fast Ball, perfect for catching fast Pokémon. They contact Professor Oak who tells Ash and co. that Kurt makes Poké Balls from Apricorns, and the process is long and hard according to Maisy. While Kurt was working Maisy showed them the other Apricorn Trees, which were used to make other kinds of Poké balls. What kind of new Poké balls can our heroes get from Kurt, and what does Team Rocket plan to do with the Apricorn Trees?

Episode Plot

At Kurt's house, Kurt and his granddaughter, Maisy, express their gratitude to the heroes, who defeated Team Rocket. Kurt remembers that they are here for an errand, so Ash tells Professor Oak sent them to him. Ash gives him the GS Ball Oak gave them, as he, Misty and Brock anticipate Kurt's explanation of it. Kurt analyzes it and says it is a sort of a Ball, but will know more after studying it. The heroes contact Oak, letting him know Kurt is studying the Ball. Oak is surprised a bit Kurt did not know, so tells the heroes to call him when Kurt finds more about it. Ash asks why should Kurt know, so Oak responds Kurt knows more about Balls, since he makes them from Apricorn. Ash asks what Apricorn are, so Oak tells him the Poké Balls are made from Apricorn. The heroes see some in Kurt's garden, so Ash goes to harvest some to let Kurt make Poké Balls from them.

Ash goes to ask Kurt, but Maisy stops him, as Kurt is currently studying the GS Ball. The heroes watch as Kurt heatens the Ball and pounds it with a hammer, then cools it down using water from Slowpoke Well and heatening it up once more. Kurt comes to the heroes and Ash asks him to give some Apricorn Poké Balls. Misty scolds him for being rude, but Kurt gives them three Poké Balls. Maisy corrects Ash, as he received a Fast Ball (which can be used to capture fast Pokémon), made from a White Apricorn. She knows that there are other Apricorns: Red, Yellow, Pink, Green, Blue and Black, used to make specific Poké Balls. Ash thinks he should get each of these, though Misty warns him not to get greedy, but Kurt tells he can make them, as long as they bring an Apricorn. Maisy remembers that there are other Apricorn growing behind the hills, not only the white ones in their garden. Team Rocket listened and see they can make a fortune by harvesting the Apricorns, so go to collect them.

The heroes come to a tree growing Pink Apricorns, used to make Love Balls that can catch Pokémon of different gender. Brock wonders if they can catch a Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny, but Misty gets his ear, as she states they are not magical. Ash goes to take some, but Maisy warns him picking Apricorns that are not grown fully or picking too many causes damage to the tree. Ash apologises, while Brock remarks that she knows about Apricorn as she is Kurt's granddaughter. The heroes come to an Orangw Apricorn Tree, used to make Moon Balls to capture Pokémon that require Moon Stone to be evolved. Ash goes to harvest some, but is stopped by Maisy, who points at Pineco. Brock likes it and wants to capute one, as it is a challenge, as a breeder, to keep it from selfdestructing. Brock goes to catch, but trips over a rock and bashes into a tree. The Pineco come down and explode, casuing Brock to take damage. Next tree is Green Apricon one, that can be made into Friend Balls. Ash, per Maisy's allowance, goes to get one, but Beedrill appear and chase him and the others away, causing them to fall down a chasm.

Ash begins to feel tired. Maisy responds that making a Poké Ball is harder than it is thought. They come to Red Apricorn tree, that can be converted as Level Balls. The heroes go to get some, but fall down a hole. Team Rocket appear and Meowth takes Pikachu, Jessie puts it in a jar, while James goes to vacuum the Apricorn. Ash sends Bulbasaur, who pulls them up with Vine Whip. Team Rocket go to suck the Apricorn to themselves, but fall down a hole, dug out by Diglett. Ash gets Pikachu. Maisy sees the Pokémon protect the land, otherwise they will have no place to live. Team Rocket come out of the tunnels, but fall down into the forest. The gang comes to Blue Apricorns, as Maisy explaines their variant, the Lure Ball, is excellent to capture Water-type Pokémon, making Misty excited. Maisy detects some good ones, so Ash and Misty pick them. From far, they see Black Apricorn, whose Balls (named Heavy Balls) can capture heavy Pokémon. Ash goes to get them as well, but Pineco appear. Brock sees it is an opportuunity, but after the wind blows, he puts the Pineco down, before they are blown away.

The wind was caused by Team Rocket and their fan. They paddle, cuasing the fan to blow a strong wind, though Brock puts Pineco down. One of them goes to battle Team Rocket, but Brock stops it. Team Rocket power the fan up. Pikachu goes to shock them, though its attack gets absorbed and binded by the fan. Pineco comes up and tackles Team Rocket. Jessie and James are furious, so send Arbok and Victreebel (the latter chewing James' head). Arbok goes to tackle it, but misses. Pineco has a blueish aura, making the heroes believe it will selfdestruct. Maisy tells Brock to use Fast Ball to catch it. Brock captures it before Arbok hit it, as it now tackled Team Rocket. Arbok and Victreebel attack Pikachu, who dodges and attacks them back. Pikachu's Thunder electrocutes them and blasts them off, as the fan overloaded and exploded. Ash praises Pikachu, while Brock sends Pineco. He tells that they will be good friends despite how it was captured, to which Pineco explodes. Ash and Misty laugh, but Ash gets hit by Black Apricorn, which Misty thinks Apricorn thanks him. Ash only says that it is welcome.

The heroes return to Kurt and give him the Apricorn. Kurt tells them that he sees the GS Ball is advanced, yet primitive, so has no clue about it. Kurt sees that it has a lock that needs to be broken. Kurt asks of them to leave the GS Ball to him. The heroes agree to if he lets Oak know what he learned. Ash sees it is Gym Badge time. Kurt remembers that the Gym is opened once again, so Ash goes to it, with Misty and Brock following him. Kurt agrees with Maisy they will wait for them, or they'll need to have a Fast Ball to catch 'em.

Debuts

Pokémon

Pineco (Brock's)

Item

• White Apricorn
• Fast Ball
• Red Apricorn
• Level Ball
• Yellow Apricorn
• Moon Ball
• Pink Apricorn
• Love Ball
• Green Apricorn
• Friend Ball
• Blue Apricorn
• Lure Ball
• Black Apricorn
• Heavy Ball

Quotes

"Never pick an Apricon before it's ready, and never pick too many Apricorn at once, otherwise you'll end up damaging the whole tree." - Maisy

Trivia

• Despite also receiving the Fast Balls, Ash and Misty never used them.
• The "Who's that Pokémon?" in this episode is Lugia. (US)

Gallery

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