03x27 - Going Apricorn!

[bunniefuu]

After finally arriving
in Azalea town...

home of the Azalea Gym...

Ash and friends quickly
found themselves

locked in battle
with Team Rocket

at the Slowpoke Well.

But little did they know

that the man in the
Slowpoke suit was Kurt,

the Pokéball expert they'd
been searching for!

Going Apricorn!

Thanks alot you guys..

You really helped us out!..

We sure are lucky
ya came along.

The whole town owes
ya for savin' the well

but I'm jus' glad
ya saved my Granpa!

She's right..

I just wish there
was some way

to show you how
grateful we are.

We're just really
glad we could help.

Now then..didn't you say
you had something for me?

Actually, yeah...

we're here on an errand
from Professor Oak.

Really?!..

Professor Oak sent
you here himself?

Who's Professor Oak?

Now Maizie..I'm sure if you
think back on all your lessons

you'll remember
that Professor Oak

is the greatest Pokémon
researcher in the world.

Ohhh..but if Professor Oak
is so great then

what does he need them for?

He asked us t' come 'cause
there's this Pokéball

that even Professor Oak
can't figure out!

We really don't know
anything about it

but we've been callin'
it the GS Ball.

The GS Ball?

Here ya go...

Why this ball is...!

I'm gonna explode if I
hafta wait another second!

Ya just gotta tell us
everything ya know!

C'mon. The suspense is
killin' us..we're beggin' you!

All right..it's clear
that the ball is...!

It's clear that the ball is..

Some kind of Pokéball.

Next thing ya know he'll
tell us it's round.

Or yellow.

I'm so sorry..

I really do hate to
disappoint you children..

once I've looked
at it more closely

I'll should be
able to say more.

Don't worry you guys..

if anybody can figure
this out it's my granpa!

Thanks a lot for tryin'
t' help us out, Kurt.

Hey Professor Oak!

It's us!

Guess what..

we're callin' ya all the
way from Kurt's house

in Azalea Town!

Ah.. so you've finally
made it there..

Have you had a chance to
give Kurt the GS Ball

like I asked you to?

We gave it to 'im right
away, like ya said..

And? What happened?

He's never seen
anything like it

so he has no idea
what it is either.

Really!

He did promise us he'd try
and figure it out though!

In that case I'd appreciate

if you'd let me know the
minute you learn anything new.

Okay.

Hello Muk..I'll be off
the phone in a minute..

Anyway, it's good to know
that it's in capable hands

even if Kurt didn't know
what it was right away.

What's so great about
this Kurt guy anyway?..

What's the big deal?

The big deal?..

He's a legend my boy!..

Kurt's an expert
craftsman who's skilled

at making Pokéballs
out of Apricorn.

But what's an Apricorn?

You should be
able to see some

growing right near Kurt's
house..take a look!

Hey Ash..I bet he means
that tree out there!

As you'll see, Pokéballs
that are made out of Apricorn

have all sorts of
special qualities

that set them apart from the
Pokéballs you're used to using.

That settles it..

I'm gonna get my hands
on an Apricorn Pokéball

of my very own.

Ever heard the saying,
"easier said than done"?

Whaddaya mean Misty..

don't ya know ya never
get anything unless ya ask?

Let's go, Pikachu!

Wait a second!

Too late Brock.

Hmm...

Hey Kurt!

Can I have one o' those
special Pokéballs..?

-Shh!
-Huh?

What's wrong?

It's hard enough t'
craft a Pokéball

without all that noise..

Keep quiet for a while so
Granpa can concentrate.

Okay..sorry Maizie

It's hard work..

Wow...

That's what I call
beautiful workmanship.

Now I see what
Professor Oak meant.

That water he dunked it in
is from the Slowpoke Well.

You really count
on that well huh?

Sure we do..an' if it
wasn't for you guys

it woulda been ruined.

I think should that would
just about do it..

Hi kids..I thought
I heard something..

Hi Kurt..I was wonderin'...

You'll have to give
me a little more time

to give you an answer
abut that GS Ball..

I've fallen a bit
behind in my work.

Actually I was gonna
ask ya somethin' else..

I was wonderin'
if you would mind

givin' me an
Apricorn Pokéball.

Don't be so rude, Ash.,

You don't just announce that
you want something like that.

Now, now..

No need to worry about that..

-Here.
-Huh?

You're giving 'em to us?..

Are you sure about that?

Course I am..

Think of it as a "thank you"
for helping me in that well..

help yourself!

We didn't mind helpin'
but thanks a lot!

So this is what an Apricorn
Pokéball looks like, huh?

Actually that one's
made o' White Apricorn

so it's called a Fast Ball.

It's a Fast Ball?

That's right..it's meant
t' be used on Pokémon

that can run away quickly.

See, Apricorns
come in seven colors-

White, Red, Blue, Black,
Pink, Green, and Yellow.

There's a different Pokéball
made from each color Apricorn,

and every kind of Pokéball
has its own name,

its own special colors
and its own specific uses.

I get it..there's more than
one kind of Apricorn Pokéball..

In that case I'll have t'
get one of each color!

Ya don't hafta be so
greedy about it, Ash.

If you really want them

I'd be happy to
make some for you.

Ya really mean it?

Sure Ash..all I need you to
do is bring me the Apricorn.

In the back yard we only
grow White Apricorn.

All the other kinds grow in
the hills up behind the house.

I can take ya there
if y' want me too!

Sounds great..
right Pikachu?

Wanna come in t'
th' hills with us

an' help us find
some Apricorn?

Did you hear that?

I heard every word.

This has Team Rocket
written all over it.

I think we've
finally found a way

to pay off all our debts.

If we can get our
paws on them Pokéballs

people will pay a
pretty penny for 'em

'cause them things don't
grow on trees ya know!

Actually Meowth

if you really had been
listening to every word

you would've heard
that sweet little girl

say that those Pokéballs
really do grow on trees.

Forget it James there's
money t' be made.

Yeah!

Thanks for the lift!

This one's a Pink
Apricorn tree.

Cool.

It's easy t' see
where it got its name..

These are used to
make Love ba*ls.

They work best when you're
tryin' t' catch Pokémon

of a different gender!

D' ya suppose a Pokéball
made from this kinda tree

would help me "catch"
Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny?

She didn't say
they were magic.

Cool..I'll just
take a couple..

No you won't!

Don't even touch 'em!..

those Apricorn aren't
ripe enough yet.

Maizie, he didn't know..

Never pick an Apricorn
before it's ready..

and never ever pick too
many apricorns at once..

otherwise you'll just end up
damaging the whole entire tree.

Sorry about that.

You sure know a lot..
don't you, Maizie.

What do you expect..

she is Kurt's
Granddaughter after all!

That's right!

See that one?

That's a Yellow Apricorn..

it becomes a Moon Ball.

They work on Pokémon that
use Moonstones to evolve.

You could use it to catch
Pokémon like Clefairy.

This should only
take a second..

Get back here!

Now what?

Look there..see anything
else in th' tree?

What's that thing?

It's a Pineco!

Let's see.

Pineco, the Bagworm Pokémon,

appears calm as it hangs
sedately from tree branches,

but it will Self Destruct
at the slightest provocation.

I think it's scary..it
looks like a grenade!

That's why it's cool..
I want a Pineco!

How are you gonna keep
it from self-destructing?

What breeder could pass
up a challenge like that?

Sometimes a breeder's road
is more like a rocky path..

but it's important t' meet
all challenges head on!

-Here goes!
-Hey stay away from there!

Ready or not here
I come Pineco!

-Brock!
-He met it "head on" all right!

Like I said..it's
a rocky path.

In his case that's true
in more ways than one.

This grove's full
of Green Apricorn..

these are the kind used
t' make Friend ba*ls.

Go 'head.. these
ones are ready

so you can take
some if ya want.

All right!..
Let's go, Pikachu!

Beedrill!

Run for it!

I'm sorry!..

There weren't any Beedrill
the last time I came here..

I promise!

Stop! Please just go away!

Whoa..That was close.

I'm startin'
t' get tired..

I had no idea this
would be so hard.

Granpa always says

makin' Pokéballs is
lots more complicated

than people
think it is..

That tree right there's
a Red Apricorn..

That's what we use
t' make Level ba*ls.

Finally..nothin's
gonna stop me

from gettin' one o'
those Apricorn!!

How did this
hole get here?

You should watch
where you're going

It'll prepare you for trouble

If you go around not knowing

You'll be making it double.

I don't believe it!

It's Team Rocket!

To protect the world
from devastation.

To unite all peoples
within our nation.

To denounce the evils
of truth and love.

To extend our reach
to the stars above.

Jessie!

James!

Team Rocket blast off
at the speed of light!

Surrender now or
prepare to fight!

Meowth! That's right!

Pikachu!

Gotcha!

Welcome aboard Pikachu!

That's better.

Allow me to demonstrate
the state of the art

in Apricorn harvesting
technology

for the budget minded
Pokéball enthusiast.

What?!.. That's just
an old vacuum cleaner.

Clever, isn't it?

After all, if we're
trying to "clean up",

then what better way to
do it than with a vacuum?

C'mon. Let's get
to work Troops.

Aye-aye, sir.

Don't do it..you're
gonna hurt the trees!

Bulbasaur, we
need your help!

Listen Bulbasaur!..

We need ya to use
your Vine Whip

and pull us outta here!

Doin' great Bulbasaur..

Keep up the good work!

Team Rocket
please stand by!..

Prepare for Operation
Clean Machine!..

Power-ON!

Quit it right now!

Just tryin' to make
an honest buck here!

'An get ourselves
outta the hole!

Is everything
okay, Pikachu?

They're gone..
just like that!

I wonder who
dug this hole?

Diglett!

I get it.. the Diglett
must watch over

and protect the
Apricorn Trees.

That's 'cause if the
Apricorn trees get hurt

the forest'll be ruined..

an' if the forest gets
ruined the mountains do too..

an' if the
mountains get ruined

then none o' th' Pokémon aroun'
here will have a place t' live.

That makes sense..
the Apricorn Trees

and the nearby Pokémon
rely on each other.

Somebody do something!..

Get me outta here now!

That's better!

Things're lookin' up!

Just don't look down!

Y' can probably
tell by lookin' that

those ones are Blue Apricorn.

Oh wow!..

just look at 'em all!

Granpa uses th' Apricorn
from these trees

t' make Lure ba*ls

which are the best
kind for Water Pokémon.

I wish I could
have one o' those!

See those ones
in the front..

they're all ready
to be picked!

Alright!

I got it!

Lookit how big that
Black Apricorn got!

What kind o' Pokéball
d' ya make with those?

They're used t'
make Heavy ba*ls

which are really good
for catchin' Pokémon

that weigh a lot.

Oh?.

I bet that would
come in handy, too...

Now's my chance!

Eeeny..meeny..mine-y..moe.

.catch a.. Pineco..
by th'.. toe..

Team Rocket!

Behold! Team Rocket's
new and improved

technologically advanced

economy model Apricorn
harvesting machine!

Is not! That thing's
just some crummy old fan!

If you speak so
unkindly about fans

you'll never be as
famous as we are!

As for this machine..

There's an unlimited
power supply.

..We're just hopin' this scheme
will make us so much money

that this bike will be the last
thing we ever hafta peddle.

Hey you..come back here!

We'll have that tree
emptied out any second now!

I can't wait 'till we start
collecting those Apricorn!

It's gonna be a breeze!.

Stop it..that's bad
for th' Apricorn!

I'll handle this..

Quick Pikachu get 'em
with your Thunderbolt!

There they go!

So predictable!

You twerps always try
the same old thing

so we're ready
for it for once!

Our electricity absorber
cuts energy usage in half

which is pretty
handy considerin'

it's our energy we're usin'!

Hold on!

Stop it Ash..it's
only hurting us!

Nooo!

Change of plans!

Get that thing!

We'll show you what
happens to Pineco

who hang around where
they ain't wanted!

Arbok! Go get it now!

Victreebel..Get
that creep!

Not me!

I meant that other creep!

The Pineco!

What's that Pineco doin'?..

Is it tryin' t'
Self Destruct?

We've gotta figure
out a way t' stop it!

Pineco get back
here right now!

Use the Fast Ball!

YOU CAN CATCH THAT PINECO
WITH THE FAST BALL!

You might as well just
give up, Team Rocket!

You twerps are really
trying our patience!

Time to go back to
our original plan!

It's tired and true..

I mean tried and true!

Go get 'em Arbok!

Show 'em we mean business
this time, Victreebel!

Now Pikachu!..

Use Quick Attack
and then..Tackle!

Pikachu!.. Use Thunder!

Looks like Team Rocket's
blasting off again!

We did it!

Good job guys!

The Apricorn
Trees are safe!

Wait'll I tell Granpa..
thanks, you guys.

It's over now...

Pineco, come on out!

I know I caught you under
strange circumstances

but I think it's safe t' say
we're gonna be good friends.

I guess it wasn't
safe t' say!

What was that for?

Careful..That Black
Apricorn's valuable!

It's the Apricorn's
way of thanking you.

I don't know what
t'say except.."

You're welcome!"

All you have to do
is leave it to me..

I promise you that when
I get through with 'em,

these'll be the
finest Pokéballs yet.

I can't wait t' see
how they come out!

Speaking of Pokéballs

did y' happen t' find out
anything about the GS Ball yet?

Hmmm..

It's simple yet complex..
classic but bold..

advanced while still
somehow primitive...

In other words..

Yeah...?

I don't have a clue.

You're kiddin', right?

I have no idea who
designed this thing

but it's protected by
a very powerful lock..

There must be a way
to break that lock

but I don't know what it is.

There's somethin' you
don't know Granpa?

I meant I don't know yet!..

I'm positive I could get
to the bottom of this

with enough time..

Would you children
mind terribly

if I kept the GS ball
a little bit longer?

It's perfectly
okay with me!

Just as long as ya promise t'
let Professor Oak know about it

whenever ya find
out anything new!

Sure.

To tell ya the truth
it's kind of a relief.

This means it's time
t' go win some badges!

That reminds me..

I heard that now

that the drought's finally
over the Azalea Gym

has opened up again.

Now you're talkin'!..

Let's go Pikachu!

Wait up, Ash!

Guess we'll be back for the
Apricorn Pokéballs later.

Let's wait here..we'd need
a Fast Ball t' catch 'em.

That's for sure.

With the GS Ball
safely delivered

but the mystery
still unsolved,

our heroes hurry
to the Azalea Gym

and to the second
Johto League gym match.

Good luck Ash...
you'll need it!