08x34 - Saved by the Beldum

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR With just one day left before the start

of the Hoenn League Championships

Ash is making final preparations

to make sure his Pokémon are ready.

'Three, four.'

'That's it, you guys, really stretch out those muscles.'

Come on now, flap those wings, snap those claws.

One, two. One, two. One--

Wow, all this exercise watching is making me hungry.

Lucky for me this food and restaurant guide

to the Ever Grande Competition

lists about a million different places to eat.

I want to go check out the Ever Grande Stadium.

'I've never seen anything so big.'

And speaking of big, I wonder if Morrison has registered yet.

I checked when I was over at the Pokémon Center

but so far they don't have anybody

with that name registered for the contest.

Wow, he better hurry

'cause the registration's going to close at o'clock.

Maybe he just came up short

trying to earn his eighth badge and didn't qualify.

Come on, there's no way

Morrison's going to miss out on this.

Now that warm ups are over

it's time for us to do some battle practicing.

[EXCITED]

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Walking down this endless highway ♪

♪ With nothing but my friends beside me ♪

♪ We'll never give in we'll never rest ♪

♪ Advanced Battle is the ultimate test ♪

♪ From the earth the land the sea and sky ♪

♪ They can never win but they sure can try ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm undefeatable ♪

♪ From the stars and the ancient past ♪

♪ They come to play but they'll never last ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm undefeatable ♪

♪ Oh oh oh ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪♪

ASH "Saved By The Beldum"

Grovyle, let's see a Quick Attack.

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

Go Pikachu, Thunderbolt, now!

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

Glalie, try your Ice Beam.

[ICE BEAM MOVE]

Hang on, Glalie, watch my sandwich!

Hey, isn't that?

Don't hit it!

[screaming]

- Morrison. - That was a direct hit.

[WORRIED]

- Ash! - You're here.

- I am. - Good to see you, Morrison.

Yeah, you too.

Man, took a lot longer to nail down

'that eighth badge than I thought it would.'

- Alright. - Nice one. Good job.

[IMPRESSED]

Hmm? Is that yours?

Oh, wait I get it.

This Glalie must have evolved from your Snorunt.

Yeah.

Hey! Ash!

This is a great collection of Pokémon. Are all these yours?

Yep, they sure are.

We're doing some battle practicing.

[laughing] Well, just wait till you get a load of all my Pokémon.

[grunting] Come on out, g*ng.

[FRIENDLY]

Those are all yours, Morrison?

BROCK 'Beldum, Girafarig, Swampert'

'Steelix, Growlithe and a Gligar.'

They all look like they've been raised and trained pretty well.

Hey, what do you expect?

I didn't come all this way just to have a good time.

- I came here to win. - Yeah?

Well if you go up against me you won't.

How about a race to see who's faster?

You're on!

[screaming]

I thought Ash was competitive

but with Morrison I think he's finally met his match.

[SHEEPISH]

[scream and grunts]

ASH/MORRISON Hey! What happened?

Prepare for trouble, how have you been?

Make it double, thanks for dropping in.

JESSIE '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. - And James.

Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light.

Surrender now or prepare for a fight.

Meowth, that's right.

[EMPHATIC]

[MERRY]

Team Rocket!

Not you losers again.

How nice of you to remember.

Seeing the two of you surrounded

by all of your wonderful Pokémon really moved us.

It moved us right here to this spot where we dug a big hole

for you to fall into so we could steal your Pokémon.

No way!

That was a terrible trick.

JESSIE It wasn't a trick at all.

JAMES It happens to be our trademark trapping.

Now, let's go do our trademark stealing

and go grab all those Pokémon.

- Yeah! - Hold it!

[gasps] Oh, uh oh.

So, we meet again.

What mischief are you up to this time?

That's none of your business so move along

and take your little Meowth-cateer with you.

[DERISIVE]

That couldn't have been nice.

Oh, it was just saying I was a pathetic embarrassment

to Meowths everywhere.

What did you say?

Did I hear Tyson?

Just keep talking there, smarty-boots

and you're going to be real sorry.

[DERISIVE]

I do not eat hairballs!

[growling]

Alright, I didn't want it to come to this

but you left me no choice!

Wait, Meowth, hold on.

Meowth, stealing the Twerps' Pokémon

is more important than a family feud.

Nothing's more important than a Meowth's honor

except maybe a nice sandwich.

Meowth, use your Iron Tail.

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

[grunting]

That was cheating.

I'll get you back if it takes all nine of my lives!

Make that eight.

Looks like those Boots kicked our butts.

TEAM ROCKET Team Rocket's blasting off again!

WOBBUFFET [ALARMED]

Hey, Tyson.

- Hi, guys, you both alright? - Yeah!

Lucky you came along and saved us.

- Morrison! - Hmm?

They're saying that you're not registered

over at the Pokémon Center.

What am I supposed to be registering for?

Uh, you have to be registered in order to compete in the contest

and the cutoff is at o'clock.

o'clock? I got to run!

Got to go register!

Wow, you just made it, Morrison.

Talk about cutting it close.

Lucky Tyson came along when he did.

- Yeah. - We're just happy to help out.

Isn't that right, Meowth?

[UNHAPPY]

ASH/MAY/BROCK/MAX/TYSON/MORRISON Huh?

MAY Why's Meowth so unhappy, Tyson?

I'm afraid that it's been through a lot.

Oh. Good luck tomorrow.

See you both in the preliminaries.

Yep!

Better hope you don't face me.

Heh. That's the attitude.

[EXCITED]

So I wonder if something bad happened to that Meowth.

I think it's best to just concentrate

on the preliminaries for now.

- Good idea! - Yeah. You're right.

So, what are preliminaries anyway?

You got to be kidding. You mean you don't know?

Alright, tell me what they are.

Well, I guess it's kind of complicated

and a little hard to describe.

Preliminaries are where the hundreds of contestants

who have entered get narrowed down

to the who will actually compete.

Battles are fought one on one in the preliminaries

and you have to register the Pokémon

that you're going to use first.

Yeah, that's just what I was about to say.

Oh, really?

Are you sure you're ready for this contest, guys?

We're always ready, aren't we?

You got that right, buddy!

[indistinct chatter]

[ATTACK]/[PAINED]

[ATTACK]/[PAINED]

[ATTACK]/[PAINED]

[thinking] Okay, now let's prepare by thinking calming thoughts.

Just relax your mind and breathe.

Go, Morrison! Go, Beldum!

[ENTHUSIASTIC]

Good luck!

MORRISON Go, Beldum, Take Down!

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

That's perfect. The same attack again.

Get ready for another Take Down.

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

This is almost too easy. Go, Electabuzz, Protect.

[PROTECT MOVE]

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

[PAINED]

Beldum, you're not hitting hard enough.

[DETERMINED]

Beldum doesn't seem to have enough power.

Doesn't help that Take Down is the only attack it knows.

You guys must be forgetting that

this is Morrison we're talking about here.

[OPTIMISTIC]

I'm not going down that easy!

Take Down again, Beldum!

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

Ha! Another Take Down Attack?

You sure know how to stick with something when it's ineffective.

Protect, Electabuzz!

[PROTECT MOVE]

[PAINED]

Oh. Beldum.

Take Down is just not working.

But there's no other choice.

Our turn now, Electabuzz.

Thunder Punch!

[INTENT]

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE]

Beldum!

[PAINED]

[grunting] Morrison's going to have to get a lot more power out of that

one attack if it's ever going to overcome

Electabuzz and its Protect.

Beldum has to use Take Down with everything it's got, Morrison.

I know that! We're trying, Ash.

Beldum, Take Down, full power!

[DETERMINED]

Well, that's nice, we were about to attack

but you're saving us the trouble of coming over there to get you.

Electabuzz, Protect.

[PROTECT MOVE]

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

Okay, okay, okay, this is going to be cool.

Quick Attack, go!

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

[PAINED]

- Ah. Another direct hit. - Get up!

Hit it with Take Down, Beldum.

[DETERMINED]

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

Wow, this is sweeter than a candy cane.

Electabuzz, Thunder bolt!

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

Don't let them throw you around like that, Beldum, get up!

[STRUGGLING]/[DETERMINED]

Okay, okay, okay.

I've never seen anyone quite so determined to lose before.

But this time when I hit you

you're going to wish you never got back up.

Electabuzz, Thunder Punch, go!

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE]

Beldum! Stay strong!

[EXERTION]/[CONFUSED]

What's happening?

Okay, okay, okay, what's this?

Beldum.

Hey, you know what?

Yeah, I think it's evolving.

[CONFIDENT]

Whoa, Beldum evolved into a Metang.

[IMPRESSED]

So that's a Metang, huh?

Metang, the Iron Claw Pokémon.

Metang is the evolved form of Beldum.

'Its highly developed intellect and strong magnetic force'

'allow it to create powerful psychic energy.'

Wow, Beldum evolved for me right when I needed it the most.

- Hope you're ready for this. - Oh, boy.

Oh, well, the bigger they are, the harder they fall

after an Electabuzz Thunder Punch, right?

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE]

Now, slow it down with your Confusion, Metang!

[CONFUSION MOVE]

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE]/[CONFUSED]

Aah! Not good.

Go, Metang, show them the real power of a Take Down.

[EXERTION]

[TAKE DOWN MOVE]

[PAINED]

Electabuzz!

[STUNNED]

Electabuzz is now unable to battle.

The victory goes to Metang and Morrison.

Aw, yeah!

Aw, man.

Hey, Morrison, great job.

[ENTHUSIASTIC]

That was pretty good, huh?

Of course, it's really no surprise is it

with all my talent?

[PLEASED]

Why don't we all go check out

Tyson's match over in the other arena?

Yeah!

He might win if I root for him.

JESSIE Ready to put our old dastardly scheme back to work?

JAMES Yes, it may be old but it's good.

Then let's go sell some snacks.

Not only will we break into the stadium

but we'll rake in the money.

Popcorn, peanuts, candy.

And some refreshing soda pop to wash it down.

I'm an embarrassment to Meowth-kind.

[MERRY]

Ah! Just in time.

Hey, Tyson.

Hi. Nice of you guys to come over and watch us.

Good luck out there.

Thanks. I think we'll be okay.

But it looks like you're going up against a Persian.

[CONFIDENT]

So, may the best Trainer win, Tyson.

[TENSE]

Meowth, easy. Hmm.

[CONFIDENT]

[TENSE]

[DETERMINED]

[TENSE]

Wow, a Meowth against a Persian's

a matchup I've never seen before.

'Yeah, but wouldn't a Meowth be at a disadvantage'

'going up against its evolved form?'

BROCK 'Not necessarily.'

'Pokémon evolution is a lot more complicated than that.'

Get your snacks and candies here.

And icy cold drinks, ridiculous prices.

Ice cream.

I'd like a soda, please.

I want popcorn.

JESSIE/JAMES Just name it, it's yours.

This is not what I had in mind

when I went off to bad guy school.

Huh?

It's that Meowth-in-Boots.

How about a little less spectating

and a little more snack-selling Meowth?

JESSIE 'That's right.'

'Get with the program, would you?'

Next up in the preliminaries will be

a single-elimination contest between Tyson and Vivica.

Begin!

[INTENT]

ASH/MORRISON Oh, wow!

It looked like Tyson's Meowth nearly had a false start.

Even at my best I couldn't go that fast.

Meowth, Slash Attack!

[DETERMINED]

[SLASH MOVE]

[CONFIDENT]/[SLASH MOVE]

Persian, counter it with Fury Swipes.

PERSIAN/MEOWTH [INTENT]/[SURPRISED]

[FURY SWIPES MOVE]

Back off, Meowth, and Double Team!

[CONFIDENT]

PERSIAN/MEOWTH [DOUBLE TEAM MOVE]/[CONFUSED]

Persian, blast them with Water Pulse.

[WATER PULSE MOVE]

[PAINED]

[DETERMINED]

I'd say that Persian is well-trained.

Me too.

Come on, Tyson.

VIVICA 'A direct hit with Persian's Water Pulse'

didn't take you down, huh?

Let's see how you handle this.

Persian, Shadow Ball Attack!

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

[PAINED]

Another direct hit.

It's looking bad for Meowth.

Persian seems to have the upper hand but it's not over yet.

[DETERMINED]/[INTENT]

- Huh? - Iron Tail!

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

[PAINED]

Now, follow that with a Thunderbolt, Meowth.

Quick, Persian, Dig and escape it underground.

[PAINED]

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

[DETERMINED]

No, my Persian.

[STUNNED]

Persian is unable to battle. Meowth is the winner.

The victory goes to Tyson!

[DETERMINED]

Meowth, stop! What're you doing?

[ADAMANT]

Whoa, what's that all about?

[UNSURE]

What's the deal with that Meowth?

It almost looks like it wants to keep on battling.

It does. I wonder why?

The battle's over Meowth, we won.

What's the matter with you?

[ADAMANT]

Hey!

[gasps] My Persian!

No, Meowth, return!

[ATTACK]

Hmm..

'Oh, Meowth.'

It all started just a few weeks into my journeys here

in the Hoenn Region

when I met this Meowth by accident one night.

'In the forest not too far from here, in fact.'

'I remember it like it was yesterday.'

I was on my way back to the cabin

where I was staying with some friends.

It had just started to snow when I heard

what sounded like a serious fight.

Hmm?

In a clearing I saw a Meowth battling a Persian.

PERSIAN/MEOWTH [ATTACK]/[PAINED]

[PAINED]

[DETERMINED]

[ATTACK]

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

[PAINED]

PERSIAN [SATISFIED]

[DETERMINED]

[PAINED]

[SMUG]

[PAINED]

TYSON I didn't know what to do

but I knew I couldn't just leave it there.

Don't worry, I'm here to help you.

Then I realized it was badly hurt.

Back at the cabin I saw that the fight with the Persian

had done some real damage especially to its legs.

That's why as it began to heal

I put those boots on it to give them some support.

[DETERMINED]

I think the battle I saw must have been to decide

the leader of the pack and Meowth lost.

[DETERMINED]

It would have been treated as an outcast

so it wasn't able to go home again.

It's lucky you found it.

Hmph, well, no wonder it's got

such a rotten attitude toward all Persian.

But wouldn't it be better if it just evolved into a Persian?

I don't think so because this one wants to prove

that even as a Meowth it can beat a Persian.

Exactly what I think.

I think the memory of that battle

burns inside it all the time.

'And it will never be at peace until it finally wins.'

I feel that Meowth's pain, I hate Persians too

and I want to crush them like it was my own personal battle.

What are you doing, Meowth?

Why aren't you pushing popcorn?

Aah! I need a new job!

JUDGE-A 'Our next preliminary battle

'is between Gilbert and Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!'

You can do it, Ash.

Yeah, let's go!

And begin!

Do it, Pikachu.

[INTENT]

Go, Hitmonlee.

HITMONLEE/PIKACHU [INTENT]

Hitmonlee, Rolling Kick.

[ROLLING KICK MOVE]

Iron Tail!

[DETERMINED]

HITMONLEE/PIKACHU [ROLLING KICK MOVE]/[EXERTION]

[grunting] Now strike!

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

[PAINED]

Perfect.

Ash has really trained his Pikachu well, hasn't he?

Hitmonlee, High Jump Kick.

[HIGH JUMP KICK MOVE]

Pikachu, use Quick Attack, now.

[DETERMINED]

[HIGH JUMP KICK MOVE]

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

[HIGH JUMP KICK MOVE]/[PAINED]

PIKACHU/HITMONLEE [SATISFIED]/[DETERMINED]

[PAINED]

Hitmonlee!

When a Pokémon misses

with its High Jump Kick, it damages itself.

[thinking] I can't take the chance with another High Jump Kick.

It might miss again.

So instead..

Now, let's finish this thing off.

I wonder why Ash isn't using any Electric Attacks.

BROCK 'Maybe he wants to stick with a single attack'

'the same way Morrison did.'

Time for the knockout.

Go, Pikachu, Charge in.

Go Hitmonlee, Mega Kick.

[MEGA KICK MOVE]

PIKACHU/HITMONLEE [PAINED]

Ah. Quick Pikachu, Iron Tail.

[AFFIRMATIVE]

[EXERTION]

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

[grunting]

PIKACHU [EXERTION]

HITMONLEE [PAINED]

[STUNNED]

Hitmonlee is now unable to battle!

Victory goes to Ash and Pikachu!

That was awesome, Pikachu.

[DELIGHTED]

You and I, Pikachu, we're gonna take it all the way to the top.

[EAGER]

NARRATOR The preliminaries have ended.

And Ash and his friends Morrison and Tyson

have qualified for the main event.

In recognition of his previous work protecting the torch

Ash is granted the great honor of running the final leg

and with that torch, ascending the great Stadium's steps.

As thousands of Pokémon fans, including family and friends

look on from all over the world

Ash lights the flame to begin the Hoenn League Championships.

The competition he'll be facing will be the toughest

he's had to contend with yet.

Will Ash have what it takes to make it all the way?

Stay tuned.

♪ Walking down this endless highway ♪

♪ With nothing but my friends beside me ♪

♪ We'll never give in we'll never rest ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ Is the ultimate test ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh ♪

♪ I'm undefeatable ♪

♪ Oh oh oh ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ I'm unbeatable ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪♪