GS149: Pop Goes the Sneasel

"Pop Goes the Sneasel"
Information
Series	Pocket Monsters, Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver
Subtitle	Pocket Monsters: Gold and Silver Arc
Season	Season 5, Pokémon: Master Quest
№	267
Opening(s) and Ending(s)	Japanese Opening Ready Go! Ending Pocket-ering Monster-ing English Opening Believe in Me
Staff credits	脚本(きゃくほん) (Screenplay) 大橋志吉 (Yukiyoshi Ōhashi) 絵(え)コンテ (Storyboard) 木村竜二 (Ryūji Kimura) 助手(じょしゅ)監督(かんとく) (Assistant director(s)) 大町繁 (Shigeru Ōmachi) 作画(さくが)監督(かんとく) (Animation director(s)) たけだゆうさく (Yūsaku Takeda)
In other countries
Japan	Title ニューラとせいなるほのお！ Airdate September 12, 2002
Japan	Title ニューラとせいなるほのお！ Airdate September 12, 2002
Anglosphere	Title Pop Goes the Sneasel Airdate(s) September 16, 2003 Notes ^ a: Signifies that it only applies to the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ and SG
Anglosphere	Title Pop Goes the Sneasel Airdate(s) September 16, 2003 Notes ^ a: Signifies that it only applies to the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ and SG
Details
Main	Ash, Misty, Brock
Recurring	Jessie, James, Harrison
Minor	Pokemon Trainers, Torch Runners
Character(s) of the Day	Harrison
Pokémon	Ash's Pikachu, Team Rocket's Meowth, Misty's Togepi, Jessie's Wobbuffet, Ash's Totodile, Ash's Phanpy, Misty's Corsola, Jessie's Arbok, Harrison's Houndoom, Harrison's Sneasel (new), Harrison's Blaziken, Machop, Machoke, Poliwrath (Male Trainer's), Butterfree (Female Trainer's) Pokémon appearing in a flashback: Ho-Oh, Scyther, Fearow, Ursaring, Rhydon
Badges or Classes
Major event(s)	Ash and co. meet Harrison, Ash's rival. Harrison catches a Sneasel. Harrison is revealed to have a Blaziken and a Houndoom.
Title cards
Japanese
For other title cards, see here and here

Pop Goes the Sneasel (Japanese: ニューラとせいなるほのお！, Hepburn: Sneasel and the Sacred Fire!) is the 56th episode of Pokémon: Master Quest.

Synopsis

With Larvitar returned to its rightful home, Ash and company make their way to Silver Town for the Silver Conference Tournament. On the way, they find a group of people lined up by the Ho-Oh Shrine, where the Silver Conference Torch is ready to be carried!

The torch runner appears to be late, and when an attendant goes to tell them the news, Togepi and Pikachu run inside. Ash and the others catch them, but not before they see two trainers leaving in a huff, afraid for their Pokémon's safety. The attendant is saddened that two more trainers have fled the Shrine, and turns to Silver Conference entry Ash Ketchum for help! Before Ash can answer, Harrison, a trainer from Hoenn, appears to help them out.

The attendant tells the tale of the shrine and why it is here; a Ho-Oh put a stop to a battle by spreading its flame throughout the area. All weapons burned, and the land was left uninhabitable, until one day, plant and animal life returned. One flame remains, which has been preserved as The Sacred Flame at the Ho-Oh Shrine. At the top of the steps is a Sneasel, which is intent on stopping anyone from approaching the Shrine. Without being able to get close, they will be unable to use the Ho-Oh's flame to light the torch!

Ash and crew approach the Secret Flame, just as Team Rocket get approached by the Sneasel, and its Machop and Machoke friends, for invading their space. Sneasel's Faint Attack sweeps Team Rocket into a frenzy and blast off before long. Ash makes his way to the shrine while Misty and Harrison deal with Machop and Machoke, but Sneasel shows up toss top Ash before he can take the flame.  Totodile tries to stop the Sneasel, but gets taken out of the match before long by Sneasel's Shadow Ball. Ash and Totodile crash into a tree, but Ash refuses to give up.

In the forest, Team Rocket talk about replacing Meowth with Sneasel, believing that Meowth is keeping them down, while Sneasel could help them start winning some battles. Meowth overhears the conversation, and puts a plan into motion to stop them from getting the Sneasel. Ash and Harrison are still trying to stop Machoke and Machoke, and use Phanpy and Houndoom to get the job done. Before Harrison can catch Sneasel, team Rocket come around in a Sneasel shaped balloon!

Meowth, dressed in a Sneasel outfit, approaches the wild Sneasel with a smoke bomb, but clues Sneasel in on the trick before it can go off. The bomb goes off anyway, but Team Rocket grab Meowth by accident, who goes and pops the balloon, blasting them off for a while longer. Harrison calls out his Blaziken, a Pokémon Ash's Pokédex has no data on, as it is native to the Hoenn region. Blaziken's Fire Punch manages to knock down Sneasel, long enough for Harrison to catch it!

Machop and Machoke are hired to guard the shrine for good, as the torch is lit and carried off to Silver Town. Harrison announces that he too is entered in the Tournament, and cannot wait to meet Ash in the stadium!

Episode plot

The heroes arrive at a gate, where people await something. The trainers respond they are at Ho-Oh's shrine, which contains the holy flame. The heroes decide to stay here and see the torch. A man opens the gate and informs the torch runner has not arrived yet. Suddenly, Togepi and Pikachu run off beyond the gate. Ash and Misty get them, so the man warns them to be more careful. Two trainers come and are displeased to train in this danger before the League. Ash claims he also came to participate, so the man asks them to solve the problem, as the other trainers run away from danger. Suddenly, a young trainer comes and is interested in this problem.

The young trainer is Harrison, from Littleroot Town in Hoenn. The heroes introduce themselves to Harrison. The man tells that the runners would like to get the flame to the shrine, but are unable. It is known a great battle was fought here, destroying the land. A Ho-Oh appeared and burned down the weapons with a colorful flame. Everything was destroyed, but Ho-Oh's flame caused life to bloom from the ashes. The people have worked for peace and one flame still exists, the Sacred Fire. The fire needs to be brought back to the shrine, but a wild Sneasel prevents anyone from touching it and injures them badly. Also, it is accompanied by Machoke and Machop.

The heroes and Harrison (who plans on catching Sneasel) will help get the flame back. Team Rocket heard of the Sacred Fire and plan on taking it for ransom. They run to the shrine but get stopped by Machoke, Machop and a Sneasel. Meowth translates that this is Sneasel's turf and they should scram. Jessie sends Arbok to headbutt Sneasel, who scratches it. Jessie and James are impressed by Sneasel. Meowth thinks he saw better moves at a Weedle, so Jessie tosses him. Meowth uses Fury Swipes, but Sneasel dodges and scratches him. Machop and Machoke punch Team Rocket away. Ash comes to the top, but gets saved by Harrison and Brock, who catch him after getting nearly hit by Machoke and Machamp.

Misty sends out Corsola, who uses Spike Cannon. Harrison's Houndoom uses Flamethrower, while Ash runs to the shrine. Ash gets ambushed by Sneasel, so sends out Totodile, who dodges its attack and uses Water Gun. Sneasel distracts Totodile using Feint and hits him. Machoke and Machamp are defeated by Corsola's Tackle and Houndoom's Flamethrower. Totodile uses Water Gun, but Sneasel dodges. Sneasel hits Totodile and uses Shadow Ball. Totodile is knocked out on Ash, who rolls down the slope and is knocked onto a tree. Still, they see a different approach must be used to catch Sneasel. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is exhausted. Meowth thinks he could train to defeat Sneasel, but James reminds him he'd evolve into a Persian. Jessie goes with James for a private discussion.

Jessie believes they should replace Meowth with Sneasel, while Meowth overhears the conversation. James is shocked and tells Jessie to remember the times with Meowth. Jessie responds he should think what is best for Team Rocket, so James sees Sneasel should join. Jessie and James come, telling Meowth he is out of Team Rocket. Meowth thinks he should share a tip with Sneasel, but knows he shouldn't be replaced. The heroes and Harrison come back, though Sneasel, Machoke and Machop still stand guard. Ash sends Phanpy and Harrison Houndoom. Machoke and Machop are hit by Phanpy's Take Down and Houndoom's Headbutt. Machoke and Machop retaliate, but miss and trip over Phanpy and Houndoom, then roll down the slope, defeated.

Harrison goes to catch Sneasel, but Team Rocket comes in their Sneasel-shaped balloon. Meowth approaches Sneasel, dressed as one. Jessie hopes that Sneasel will trigger the bomb hidden inside the present Meowth carries, so they can snatch it. However, Meowth warns Sneasel what Jessie and James are up to. Meowth advises to throw the present back to them, but Sneasel cuts his costume and the present, triggering the smoke bomb. Jessie and James take the Sneasel and fly up in the balloon, saying Meowth goodbye. However, they caught Meowth, who scratches them for this betrayal. Jessie tosses him onto the balloon, and, due to Meowth's sharp claws, pops the balloon and Team Rocket is blasted off.

Harrison sends Blaziken to fight. However, the heroes are surprised that the PokéDex has no data about it. Blaziken starts with Quick Attack, hitting Sneasel, who retaliates with Shadow Ball. Blaziken uses Flamethrower on Sneasel and uses Fire Punch, defeating it. Harrison throws his Poké Ball and catches Sneasel. Misty and Brock remind Ash of the Sacred Flame, so Ash opens the shrine. Later, the flame is delivered. The man thanks the heroes and points out Machop and Machoke are hired to protect the shrine. The heroes observe as runners carry the torch. Harrison tells he will be in the League and expects Ash to battle him there. He leaves, while Ash hopes to defeat all trainers.

Debuts

Character

• Harrison

Pokémon

• Blaziken (Harrison's)
• Harrison's Sneasel
• Harrison's Houndoom

Move

• Sacred Fire

Trivia

• One of the male trainers who failed to get the flame was voiced by Andrew Rannells.
• "Who's that Pokémon?": Elekid.
• The episode's name is a reference to the nursery rhyme "Pop Goes the Weasel".

Gallery

The heroes are in favor to see the holy flame

Ho-Oh from the legend

The injured patients

The heroes and Harrison promise to stop Sneasel

Jessie and James like the Sneasel

Meowth gets scratched

Corsola tackles Machoke

Totodile gets hit by Shadow Ball

Meowth overhears the conversation

Phanpy takes down Machop

Machoke and Machop rolled down the slope

Team Rocket appears in a new balloon

Jessie hopes Sneasel will open the present

Team Rocket got Meowth back

Meowth scratches Jessie and James

Meowth rips the balloon

The Pokédex has no data on Blaziken

Blaziken punches Sneasel

The torch is being carried