08x52 - A Hurdle for Squirtle

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR Finally arriving in Saffron City

May is excited about her Pokémon Contest

and competing for her first Kanto Ribbon.

But she hadn't counted on Harley

tricking her once again and nearly preventing her

from even entering the contest.

Should have known not to mess with me.

Sky Uppercut.

[SKY UPPERCUT MOVE]

NARRATOR But, by pointing out that it was May who had foiled

Team Rocket and saved the other Coordinators' Pokémon

emcee Lillian comes to the rescue.

- You're good to go now, May. - Thanks.

NARRATOR So now, she'll have to handle her nemesis Harley

on an all-new Saffron City stage.

Can she put the drama behind her

and will she have what it takes

to earn her first ribbon in Kanto?

♪ 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 ♪

♪ Advanced Battle ♪

♪ Oh 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 "A Hurdle For Squirtle."

Welcome, everyone, it's showtime.

And welcome also to all our Coordinators and their Pokémon.

The Saffron City Pokémon Contest

on our all new stage is about to get underway.

Get ready for a display of love and creativity.

[cheering]

I'm definitely feeling the love.

Our first contest in the Kanto region.

Yeah, let's cheer really loud for May.

[EXCITED]

Only one contestant will take home

this valuable prize, the Saffron Ribbon.

Only truly amazing Coordinators who win this ribbon

will move on to hopefully win contest all across the region

and get the five badges necessary to have

any chance of entering the Grand Festival.

'Alright then, let's get to the action, shall we?'

Pretty exciting, huh, Squirtle?

[EXCITED]

- 'Hi, May.' - Huh?

I'm sorry, I feel just terrible for giving you

the wrong information about the contest entry pass yesterday.

I'm just so glad you got in.

- Drop the act, Harley. - What do you mean?

I mean that it won't work.

I know what you're up to and I'm gonna win that ribbon.

- Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. - Huh?

You may have gotten into the contest

'but that's as far as you go.'

LILLIAN Now, let me introduce our fine panel of judges.

Our head judge and perennial fashion plate, Raul Contesta.

Always a pleasure to be here.

Up next, the President of the Pokémon Fan Club

Mr. Sukizou.

Thank you. This is remarkable.

Finally, Saffron City's very own Nurse Joy.

It's an honor to be included.

Nurse Joy, the honor is all ours.

Now, let's get right to the first round.

In our opening rounds, contestants will showcase

both Coordinator and Pokémon technique and performance.

Now, is everyone ready?

[cheering]

What a crowd.

Kanto fans really have some spirit, huh?

Yeah, and I'm feelin' it myself.

[EXCITED]

[crowd cheering]

Think Jessie could actually win?

Let me put it to you this way, not a chance.

We sure have a great crowd here today.

Now, give it up for our first contestants.

And here is Harley.

[cheering]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

- So he's the first up. - Big creep.

I'll never forgive him for being so rotten to my sister.

- Hmm. - I recognize him.

That's the guy who messed up our getaway with his Ariados.

Come on out, my cool Cacturne. Hah.

[APPEARING]

Cotton Spore.

[COTTON SPORE MOVE]

[crowd cheering]

LILLIAN 'Harley's Cacturne starts things off'

'with an impressive display of Cotton Spore.'

Oh, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

I've taken Cacturne's attacks to a whole new level.

So, check this out.

Go Cacturne, use Needle Arm.

[EXERTION]

BROCK/MAX/ASH Huh?

LILLIAN/JOY/CONTESTA/SAM Huh?

[gasping]

Hmm.

[chuckles]

[snaps fingers]

[NEEDLE ARM MOVE]

[crowd cheering]

A wild, creative use of Needle Arm.

'And the crowd roars its approval of Harley'

'and Cacturne's spectacular display.'

- How did he do that? - I've never seen that before.

Got to give him credit, I guess.

Must've invented that one himself.

[indistinct chatter]

[WORRIED]

It had to take lots of training to teach that to Cacturne.

Alright. The crowd approves.

Let's see what our judges think.

An enchanting combination, blending the mystery

of Grass Pokémon with the creepy appeal of Dark Pokémon.

I say, remarkable.

Communicating by snapping fingers was great.

Hmm, that's the kind of crowd-pleaser

you wanna start a contest with.

Now, let's keep that excitement level high.

[crowd cheering]

[CAWING]

[ATTACK]

[PSYCHIC MOVE]

[ATTACK]

And now, welcome our next entrant

Coordinator Empress Jessabella

'the thoroughly fabulous.'

- She's up. - Do it, Jessabella.

Come out, Cacnea.

[APPEARING]

Alright, let's do this.

[DETERMINED]

Haa..

[CHARGING]

It's a quick approach from Cacnea and Jessabella.

'What sort of collision will it lead to?'

[GRABBING]

- What? - Oh, my.

[HUGGING]

[grunting]

[gasping]

So far so good.

She's holding up under the pain better than I could.

Now, that's gotta hurt.

Unique way of going for appeal.

There's gotta be a better way, this is making me hurt.

[UNCOMFORTABLE]

Wow, that's true love.

What a romantic, heartwarming embrace, showing the deep bond

'between Coordinator and Pokémon.'

'You can feel the emotional impact it's had on this crowd.'

[thinking] Don't know how much more I can take.

But I'm so close to my dream of becoming Top Coordinator.

Cacnea, go right into, Pin m*ssile.

[PIN m*ssile MOVE]

[gasping]

[PROUD]

A gorgeous fireworks display using Pin m*ssile.

Wow, that was great.

I'll have to watch out for this Coordinator.

[AGREEMENT]

Jessie's good.

Good enough to put her right into the second round.

Combining Pin m*ssile with fireworks

was an impressive idea.

I'll say, "Remarkable."

A beautiful blend of love and high expl*sives.

Again the crowd and judges agree.

Praise for Jessabella and Cacnea.

Our next contest..

Huh?

Okay, time to clear the stage.

Oh.

'Chansey, I think we're gonna need'

'the stretcher for this one.'

[CALM]

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that takes us

to our final first round entry.

'Please welcome, May.'

Let's go, May. Alright.

[CHEERING]

[NOTICING]

[UNEASY]

'It's okay, Squirtle.'

[CURIOUS]

You'll be a little nervous at first

but you'll get used to it.

Now, watch closely.

We're gonna knock those judges' socks off.

[DETERMINED]

Combusken.

Take the stage.

[APPEARING]

Alright, now, start with Fire Spin and go into Sky Uppercut.

[FIRE SPIN MOVE]

[SKY UPPERCUT MOVE]

That's it, Combusken.

[chuckles]

Ta-da!

[cheering]

May has just pulled off an excellent combination

of Sky Uppercut and Fire Spin.

'What a terrific way to mark the end of our first round here'

'at the Saffron Hall.'

[AWED]

- Way to go. - I knew she could do it.

[HAPPY]

Great performance.

She and Combusken were in perfect sync.

LILLIAN 'The first round of judging is complete.'

So please turn your attention to the main screen.

Here are the lucky eight Coordinators

who will continue on into the second round.

'Let's hear it for these hard working Pokémon Trainers.'

Excellent. Jessie made the cut.

She could actually pull this off after all.

Phew. May's in.

Well, folks, here's how the second round works.

These eight will now be paired at random by the computer

'for single-elimination contest battles.'

She got the chump.

Yeah, so now she can pay him back.

Looks like we'll be in the fourth battle.

Are you ready to show 'em what you got, Squirtle?

[READY]

HARLEY 'Heh, you and that luck of yours, May.'

We probably won't go against each other

until the final round.

So the grand finale will be your total humiliation.

Save your threats, Harley. I'm winning that ribbon.

- No way. - Huh?

JESSIE Cacnea may have turned me into a human pincushion

but I'm the one who's going to the final stage

and taking home that ribbon.

- Oh, dear. And who are you? - Hmph.

I'm Empress Coordinator, Jessabella.

Aah. You're my next opponent, or shall I say next victim?

Oh? This is fun.

We'll see who ends up the victim.

And then after her..

JESSIE/HARLEY I'll be coming for you.

Yeah, well, good luck.

I say, you're both goin' down.

Welcome to round two, everyone.

Victory goes to the Coordinator in each pair

whose attacks most beautifully and effectively lower

the opponent's points within the five minute time limit.

And to the stage, our first pairing.

'Let's hear it for Harley versus Empress Jessabella.'

So, start the clock, now!

Go, my cool Ariados. Go.

[APPEARING]

I knew he'd start with Ariados.

[AGREEMENT]

Let's go, Wobbuffet.

[APPEARING]

- Why Wobbuffet? - Wouldn't have been my choice.

Well, this ought to be an interesting matchup.

ARIADOS [CHATTERING]

[Jessie chuckles]

[thinking] I'll bet this buffoon doesn't realize

Wobbuffet's Counter doubles an opponent's attack

and sends it right back at him.

As soon as he makes a move, I'll have a knockout

and this battle will be over.

[thinking] Hmph. She's waiting to turn my attack back on me.

Best right now to do nothing at all.

LILLIAN 'It looks like a standoff'

'with neither side launching an attack.'

I wonder what those two are doing?

[CONFUSED]

You know what I think?

Harley's too concerned about Counter and Mirror Coat

to make a move, he's just gonna wait.

Yeah, but Brock, Wobbuffet can't really attack on its own either.

So they're both gonna just sit there?

[CURIOUS]

LILLIAN Coordinators, the clock is ticking.

[grunts]

Well, come on already.

Hurry up and attack us, will you?

[CONFUSED]

Not a chance. I know what you're trying to do.

[AGREEMENT]

You leave me no choice.

Both of you are issued a yellow card.

[beeping]

- What? - No fair.

Sorry, but this isn't a staring contest.

You've given us nothing to judge.

Not remarkable at all.

A second yellow for either of you

would result in disqualification.

JESSIE What do you want me to do about it?

He's the one standing there like a statue.

HARLEY At least I'm not calling myself some phony Empress.

JESSIE At least I don't have a mushroom for a hat.

- Yeah? Well, sticks and stones. - I've heard enough.

I have no choice but to give you both a second--

HARLEY 'Alright, alright, I'll attack her.'

If it'll keep you from disqualifying me, I'll do it.

Whoa, wait a minute, I know.

No one said my attacks had to be offensive.

Let's go, Ariados, String Shot.

[STRING SHOT MOVE]

Yeah, here's our chance, Wobbuffet.

[COUNTER MOVE]

[STRUGGLING]

What? No way.

Mirror Coat and Counter won't work against defensive attacks.

Ariados, let's have some fun with Wobbuffet.

[CONTENT]

[STRUGGLING]

Well, finally, this contest has gotten moving

'and Wobbuffet's being played like a puppet.'

Ah-ha. Whoo. Whee.

[STRUGGLING]

[laughing]

What an interesting attack.

Yes, remarkable.

Perfect sync between Coordinator and his Pokémon.

♪ You put your right foot out ♪

♪ You put your left out ♪

♪ And you bounce it all around ♪♪

Stop that. This is a serious battle.

That's smart, he used String Shot

which is a defensive attack.

So it couldn't be bounced back

by Counter or Mirror Coat, right?

♪ A one and a two and a buckle my shoe ♪

Okay, Harley.

It's hard to admit, but you're really pretty good.

Come on, Jessie. Fight.

Better do somethin' quick or that'll be it.

Come on, get it together, Wobbuffet.

[STRUGGLING]

Let's finish this.

Ariados, throw it for a touchdown.

[EXERTION]

[SCARED]

LILLIAN 'That costs Empress Jessabella the last of her points'

'and sends Harley on to the semi-finals.'

Yay.

[chuckles]

Oh, I'm all washed out.

- She's gone. - And faded away.

Go, Squirtle. Bubble Attack, now.

[BUBBLE MOVE]

[STUNNED]

Ariados, Spider Web.

[SPIDER WEB MOVE]

[STRUGGLING]

[cheering]

Follow it up with Tackle.

[TACKLE MOVE]

WEEPINBELL [STUNNED]

Great combo, May.

[CHEERING]

Wow, so the Pokémon Contest here in Saffron City

is coming right down to the wire.

With two contestants left to battle it out

for the Saffron Ribbon.

'May and Harley.'

Squirtle took May to the finals in its first try.

Yeah, I guess that's their reward

for all the time they spent training.

I suppose, but Harley's a tough opponent.

May's gonna have her work cut out for her.

Alright, the Saffron City Contest

final round is now underway.

[cheering]

Squirtle, take the stage.

[EXCITED]

Come on, Ariados, String Shot.

[APPEARING]

And Scary Face.

[STRING SHOT MOVE]

[SCARY FACE MOVE]

[SCARED]

[STRUGGLING]

It's alright, Squirtle, get up.

Once again, Ariados uses String Shot.

And they add a twist with Scary Face.

You'll need more than that.

Squirtle, use Ice Beam.

[ICE BEAM MOVE]

[gasps]

[EXERTION]

- That was really strong. - Yeah.

But May doesn't have much control of it.

Ha, nice try.

You should've used Combusken.

Going against me with a Fire Type

you might have had a fighting chance at least.

- Hello? - Come on, Squirtle.

Get back up. We're still gonna win this thing.

[STRUGGLING]

Ariados, hit Squirtle with String Shot.

[STRING SHOT MOVE]

[CURIOUS]

[SCARED]

[STRUGGLING]

- Oh, no. - Here we go again.

With that String Shot Attack

'and May's points are taking a major hit.'

How are they gonna get out of this one?

You know, I just figured that Harley would have to resort

to cheating to get this win.

Keep cool, May.

There's gotta be a way out of this, you just have to think.

[ENCOURAGING]

Now, why not take this chance to rack up some style points?

Ariados, cover the whole stage with Spider Web.

[SPIDER WEB MOVE]

ARIADOS [PROUD]

LILLIAN 'What's this?'

Amazing, a Spider Web Attack

used to give the whole stage an incredible yet eerie feel.

[gasping]

I'm far from done humiliating you.

Ariados, now give me a Squirtle round-up.

ARIADOS/SQUIRTLE [INTENT]/[STRUGGLING]

[SCARED]

Squirtle seems to be stuck and going nowhere.

Come on, get yourself free.

LILLIAN 'Like quicksand, struggling only seems to make things worse.'

'And all the while May's points are dropping like a rock.'

I've been waiting a long time for this.

Just waiting to pay you back

for all the defeats you've given me.

And now I get to teach you exactly what it feels like.

Go, Ariados, Double-Edge now.

[EXERTION]

[SCARED]

[EXERTION]

Go, Squirtle, use your Bubble Attack.

[BUBBLE MOVE]

[EXERTION]

A last-gasp attempt from Squirtle with Bubble Attack

'but it's completely destroyed by Ariados'

'and that could do it.'

- You've still got a shot, May. - Yeah, you can do it.

[ENCOURAGING]

ARIADOS/SQUIRTLE [EXERTION]/[PANICKED]

[thinking] Now what, Ice Beam is the only attack

with enough power but I can't control it.

SQUIRTLE/ARIADOS [ICE BEAM MOVE]/[EXERTION]

That's it, with that much uncontrolled power

somethin's gotta give.

Squirtle, Ice Beam attack, go.

[AFFIRMATIVE]/[ICE BEAM MOVE]

[CONTENT]

[STUNNED]

Oh, wow. Look at that.

An uncontrolled Ice Beam may just have saved

May's chances here, as it has frozen the webs completely.

You did it, Squirtle.

[PROUD]

- No way. - Awesome.

- Ha-ha. Way to go. - Ha-ha, alright.

[CHEERING]

Go, Squirtle, Bubble Attack now.

[EXERTION]

[BUBBLE MOVE]

[PAINED]

Ariados, fight back.

[FOCUSED]

[STRUGGLING]

You've got it now, Squirtle. Finish up with Tackle.

[TACKLE MOVE]

ARIADOS [PAINED]

[SCARED]

ARIADOS [STUNNED]

SQUIRTLE [PROUD]

[beeping]

Ariados cannot continue.

In an impressive comeback, May has pulled off

'the big win here at Saffron City.'

Alright.

[OVERJOYED]

You were awesome.

Great job, Squirtle. You really came through.

[HAPPY]

You did it, May.

[CHEERING]

- That was her best battle yet. - Yeah.

[STUNNED]

No way I could've lost.

Stupid contest must have been rigged somehow. Augh.

Ladies and gentlemen, join me now as we present May

with the prized Saffron Ribbon, in honor of her remarkable

'victory here at the Saffron City Pokémon Contest.'

'Let's hear it for her.'

[applauds]

Alright, the Saffron Ribbon is all ours.

SQUIRTLE/COMBUSKEN [HAPPY]

I was a little worried when you fired that last Ice Beam, May.

Me too. That one could've gone anywhere.

Well, the good news is you have a powerful

new attack you can use.

'You just need to practice'

'so you can control it a little better.'

Mm-hm. It's not just the Ice Beam either.

I need to brush up on all my attacks.

So I can go win some more ribbons.

I hear you, May, that's how I feel too.

We're looking forward to that Battle Arena, huh?

[AGREEMENT]

NARRATOR So, as Ash, May, Brock, and Max head out of Saffron City

it seems May is not the only one energized

by her first Kanto Ribbon.

More than ever, Ash is looking forward

to his next challenge in the Battle Frontier.

♪ 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 ♪♪