GS135: Beauty Is Skin Deep

Beauty is Skin Deep (Japanese: イブキとミニリュウ！, Hepburn: Clair and Dratini!) is the 42nd episode of Pokémon: Master Quest.

Synopsis

With Blackthorn City just a stone's throw away, Ash gets psyched about his final Gym Battle. Misty notices a Dratini and how cute it is. Just as they were getting close to it, a Gyarados comes out of the lake and attacks them. Then a woman appears demanding what they wanted with Dratini. After things get sorted out, the woman introduces herself as Clair and she was trying to keep Dratini safe, but it goes off. Later there's an old man who tries to catch up with Clair but he tumbles over. He explains that he is the assistant to Clair, who he reveals to be the Blackthorn Gym Leader. Also he needs Clair to perform a Dragon Fang Purification ritual, but Clair says she has to protect Dratini since it's going to shed it's skin.

Will Dratini be safe until then, and will the ritual be performed before midnight?

Episode Plot

Ash runs, so Misty and Brock wonder why is he running. Ash replies the sooner he gets to the Gym, the sooner he arrives to the Johto League. They encounter a sleeping Dratini. However, a Gyarados appears, using Hydro Pump as a warning. The heroes see it shouldn't be hostile, while a woman appears them, questioning what would they want with Dratini. After an explanation, the woman responds Gyarados was protecting Dratini. The heroes introduce themselves and while Brock tries to charm Clair, she has her attention at Dratini, who swims away.

Suddenly, a man goes to get Clair, warning there will be trouble if she does not appear. He trips over, but stands up, shows the peace sign and tells he is "I'm still in one peace". The man shows the heroes a Dragon Fang, an artifact which is kept in Blackthorn City, working for Clair. The man admits Clair is the Gym Leader and both of them preserve Blackthorn City's history. The man tells there was a nasty dragon and the first Gym Leader defeated it and took its fang. Being carried from and by Gym Leaders, today the Purification Ritual must be commenced.

As Team Rocket relaxes, they notice a Dratini. James sends Weezing to get Dratini, but they get swept by a wave. Clair appears before them and protects Dratini from harm. Jessie still wants it and sends Arbok, who uses Poison Sting. However, Gyarados' Hydro Pump negates the attack and blasts Team Rocket off. The heroes arrive, with the old man remiding Clair she needs to purify the Dragon Fang. Clair responds she knows that, but also knows Dratini is going to shed its skin and must be with it. Clair follows Dratini, but the man begs her to complete the ritual. So, they all see they need to wait for Dratini to shed its skin, while Ash sees he cannot ask for a Gym match.

Team Rocket observes, so Meowth thinks they should give Dratini to the boss. Jessie refuses to give it to anyone, but they see they need a good plan to snatch it from the Gym Leader. Clair makes a break and gives some sandwiches to the heroes and the old man, who like them. Ash asks for a Gym battle after Dratini sheds its skin, since he needs the last badge. Clair is impressed by his badge collection and accepts his offer. The man sees Ash won the Glacier Badge and heard trouble at Mahogany Town with the angry Gyarados. The heroes admit the story is true and met Lance, who helped them. Clair knows Lance, since many Dragon-type Pokémon trainers spend a lot of time at Blackthorn City. She even trained him for a while, after he surpassed her skills.

Suddenly, Jessie and James, dressed as old people, admire Dratini. James takes photos of Jessie and Dratini. Clair asks them to be quiet, since Dratini needs rest. Jessie and James gaze upon Dratini, then Jessie releases a net to capture Dratini. Meowth throws a smokebomb, distracting everyone as Team Rocket flies away. Clair promises she will not let Dratini down on this. Clair jumps on trees to follow Team Rocket, while the heroes follow her. Team Rocket thinks they should get awards for the previous acting. However, Dratini shakes their balloon, causing it to fall down. As Team Rocket are distracted, Dratini tries to get into the river, but Jessie stops it.

The heroes and Clair appear to stop them. James sends Weezing and Clair Gyarados. Weezing uses Sludge, but gets negated by Hydro Pump. Gyarados throws Weezing away, making Meowth impressed by Clair's skills. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but Wobbuffet's Counter redirects the attack to Ash, Pikachu, Team Rocket and Dratini, but Clair takes the damage to protect it. Suddenly, Dratini evolves into a Dragonair, who shocks Team Rocket. Jessie is angered, but sees they should capture it, since it is much rarer than before. Weezing uses Sludge, but gets knocked out by Hyper Beam. Team Rocket blasts off with Dragonair's Twister.

Clair appreciates Dratini's evolution. The old man thinks Team Rocket flies on dragon air. Suddenly, Dragonair swims away and leads everyone to a landscape, as it wanted the ritual to commence here. The old man prepares the Dragon Fang. Being at the lake, Clair wishes joy to all dragons of sky, earth and water, then pours some water onto the Dragon Fang, causing it to glow. It releases a beam in a shape of a dragon that goes to the moon, leaving glitter behind. The heroes think this new dragon became a star, so the old man explains such dragons watch over all Dragon Pokémon. Clair tells with the ritual completed, she will battle Ash. Next day, the heroes come to the entrance to Blackthorn City. Ash is not nervous and is happy to know he will have his final badge.

Debuts

Character

• Clair
• Kaburagi

Pokémon

• Clair's Dragonair
• Clair's Gyarados

Item

Dragon Fang

Trivia

• The title of this story was taken from a preposition "Beauty is only skin deep".
• The "Who's that Pokémon?" is Goldeen.

Gallery

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