07x12 - Cheer Pressure

[bunniefuu]

[instrumental music]

Hm.

[chuckles]

[laughs]

MAY A ribbon from Fallarbor Town.

- This is so awesome. - Oh, man.

MAX How long's this gonna go on?

Aw, it's alright.

Your sister just won her first ribbon.

It's okay to gloat a little.

That's right. And come to think of it.

- Hm? - Hm?

ASH Let's hit the road.

[EXCITED]

MAX Where are you goin', Ash?

ASH Where do you think?

We're goin' to Lavaridge Town.

And my next Gym battle, of course.

Oh, I just wondered, seein' as how Lavaridge Town is that way.

[Ash groans]

[laughs]

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ Every Trainer has a choice ♪

♪ To listen to that voice inside ♪

♪ I know the battle may be long ♪

♪ Winners may have come and gone ♪

♪ I will carry on ♪

♪ Yeah this dream will last forever ♪

♪ And this dream will never die ♪

♪ We will rise to meet the challenge every time ♪

♪ Advanced Challenge ♪

♪ Yeah this dream keeps us together ♪

♪ This shows that you and I ♪

♪ Will be the best that the world's ever seen ♪

♪ Cause we always will follow this dream ♪

♪ Po-ké-mon ♪♪

ASH "Cheer Pressure."

NARRATOR With May having just won her first

Pokémon Contest in Fallarbor Town

Ash is more excited than ever for his next Gym battle.

So, it's off to Lavaridge Town for our heroes.

[CURIOUS]

[INTRIGUED]

Cool drums, and I wonder who's playin' 'em

out in the middle of the woods?

[INTRIGUED]

BROCK 'It's coming from up there.'

'Let's check it out.'

ASH/MAX/MAY 'Yeah!'

[drums music]

ASH Look.

[CURIOUS]

[gasps]

THATCHER Great to see you guys again.

Remember me?

ASH/MAY/MAX/BROCK Huh?

Oh, yeah.

First off, I need to tell you the requirements

for becomin' a hero, okay?

Hey, Ash. I'm ready now and I trust my Pokémon.

Plusle, Minun

go get the Light Stone and get Pikachu, too.

[DETERMINED]

That'll be great, Master, thanks.

Ash, I consider you my hero and Master.

Thatcher, it's you.

Right, from the mountain lighthouse.

- How have you been? - Great.

- How are Plusle and Minun? - They're good, thanks.

Plusle. Minun.

[EXCITED]

[WARM]

[PLAYFUL]

So, what brought you all the way up here?

- Uh, a Pep Squad. - What? What's a Pep Squad?

Let me explain. See, Ash..

After we met, I went off to become

a Pokémon Trainer, like you.

[EAGER]

[DETERMINED]/[INTENT]

Plusle. Minun. Helping Hand now.

[HELPING HAND MOVE]

Then one day, we were practicing attacks.

Not bad, that's quite an impressive

Helping Hand, young man.

Um, who are you?

I'm Sheridan, and I'm recruiting new students

for my special school, training top-level Pep Squads

to cheer during Pokémon battles.

- Pep Squads? - That's right.

And you're in luck, 'cause my training's gonna make

you a Cheer Master.

And here I am now.

- Cheer Master? - What's that mean?

Well, I'm still in training, but I'm learning

the ancient arts of cheering and pep.

JESSIE 'Twerp spotted.'

Did I hear him correctly? A cheerleading school?

Yeah, but cheerleaders are stuck-up.

Um-hm, that's not necessarily true, Meowth.

It's not true, I had a fabulous experience with my squad.

And I hear you looked great in your uniform.

Huh? You know, maybe we need a cheerleadin' squad.

You're right, I could be the beautiful Team Captain

that everybody's jealous of.

- Nah, I think not. - Can we vote?

Wait a sec. Wouldn't that be against the rules?

If you used Plusle and Minun's Helping Hand to affect a battle?

- What do you think, Brock? - Huh?

- Uh, Brock's over there. - Huh?

I've always had a great admiration

for women in the business of Pep.

As a matter of fact, I've done a bit of cheering myself.

Yay. Yay.

Yeah. Yeah, Yeah. Hm.

L-O-V-E spells love.

I believe the word's pep, not pest, Brock.

The way Sheridan explained it to me

all the power's in the Pokémon cheers.

The cheering helps to revitalize the Pokémon.

And so, there's nothing about it that's against the rules.

I guess that explains it. Sort of.

[JESSIE] 'Master, we need your help.'

- 'Please.' - 'Please.'

JAMES We heard of the effect

your cheering has on battles

and our record's been subpar.

Yeah, over losses below subpar.

So, with the help of your power of cheers

we were hoping you could get us one victory?

To help the underdog in battle

that is the single purpose of cheerleading.

JAMES/MEOWTH/JESSIE Yes, thank you for your help, Sir.

In fact, some Pokémon Trainers just arrived.

Perhaps we could start out by battling with them, Master.

Maybe.

Certainly with the power of my cheering

even you three might win.

Alright, but before I agree to help

there's still the small issue of my payment.

Nothing comes for free.

Yes, and don't we know it? Of course.

Master, just name your price, the sky is the limit.

- Hope he'll take a check. - So, how much?

JAMES/MEOWTH/JESSIE 'We're ready to pay.'

Then you've got yourselves a cheerleader.

[PLAYFUL]

[HAPPY]

AMY Hi, there. Sorry to interrupt.

I know you're tired from your walk

but I could really use your help.

- Could I ask a favor? - Yeah, why of course.

- Anything at all. - Thanks.

Sheridan has some new students and he wants you to be

in a test battle to show a cheering demonstration.

Sure thing, we'd be happy to help him.

Perfect. A good warm-up for my Gym battle.

Master. Everyone.

This is my Master and Pep Squad Leader, Sheridan.

Welcome to my Cheering Academy.

Master, Ash and his friends will do a test battle.

Well, that is very much appreciated.

What I'll demonstrate, as Pep Squad Leader

is the amazing power of Pokémon cheering.

- Okay. - Okay.

I'm up first.

But please, go easy on me.

Come on out here, you three.

Our guests have generously agreed to battle with you.

JAMES/MEOWTH/JESSIE Oh, goody.

[laughing]

Brock, let me know when you're ready to battle.

I was born ready.

Wait, why do we start with him?

You have a problem with that?

No, no. It's not a problem at all.

- You go in first, okay? - Huh? Why?

What name should I announce?

Oh, you can call me Jame..

Jamester, just say that it's Jamester.

AMY Brock and Jamester.

This is a one-on-one battle with no time limit.

The cheering test battle will now begin.

I choose Cacnea.

Stop that, you pinhead.

Why do you continue to attack me?

- That hurts. - Alright, go, Foretress.

[CONFIDENT]

Cacnea, go. Pin m*ssile.

[PIN m*ssile MOVE]

Foretress, Rapid Spin.

[RAPID SPIN MOVE]

[PAINED]

That's the way. Now, Tackle.

[TACKLE MOVE]

[PAINED]

Cacnea!

Well, that did it.

Yup. Brock's won this one.

Ash, don't be so sure until you've seen

the effect of the cheer.

Hm, drum number one.

Start with a -- count.

[instrumental music]

Helping Hand.

Whoa, that was weird.

What was weird?

I thought I saw something.

Huh?

[INVIGORATED]

Go, Cacnea, Needle Arm, now.

[NEEDLE ARM MOVE]

- No way. - Ah!

CACNEA/FORETRESS [NEEDLE ARM MOVE]/[PAINED]

[gasps]

Hold on, Cacnea was knocked out and got revived?

[SHOCKED]

That's right.

[PAINED]

Okay, Cacnea. Now, use Sandstorm.

[SANDSTORM MOVE]

[DISTRESSED]

And now, Pin m*ssile once more.

[PIN m*ssile MOVE]

Foretress, Rapid Spin.

[RAPID SPIN MOVE]

[screams]

Wait a second. That attack was stronger than before.

[AGHAST]

[STUNNED]

[gasping]

Foretress is unable to battle. Cacnea's the winner.

'The victory goes to Jamester.'

Yahoo! I won! I won!

I can't believe I actually won.

Ow! Ow! That hurts, but I won, I won, I won.

I can't believe Brock lost to this guy.

That was pretty weird, I don't get how things

could just suddenly turn around like that.

Okay, we'll figure this out. Right, pal?

[AGREEMENT]

So, I'm up next, Sheridan.

Good, the Twerp's next up.

As soon as that Pikachu is powerless, swoop in and grab it.

You got it, Jess.

- What if you don't win? - Oh, I'll win.

Because Sheridan knows that if I don't he'll never get his money.

- Mm-hm. - Mm-hm.

Let's do it.

ASH 'Alright, I'm ready to battle.'

PIKACHU [EAGER]

Okay, I know I saw light come out of that drum. Hm.

Round two of the match between Ash from Palette Town and..

Oh, uh, Jessica.

Good, now, Ash and Jessica.

One on one, unlimited time.

Let the cheering test battle begin.

Seviper, go.

[CONFIDENT]

[chuckles]

[thinking] Today's the day.

Finally, we'll be victorious.

Just when Seviper and I mercilessly beat down Pikachu.

[laughs]

James and Meowth will show up in our new super robot.

We'll snatch Pikachu. and make our getaway.

- 'Thunderbolt' - Huh?

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

Use Quick Attack.

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

[PAINED]

Hey, no fair. I wasn't ready.

Iron Tail, Pikachu!

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

SEVIPER [PAINED]

[gasps]

How about that cheering?

Seviper here could use a little pep.

Don't be impatient.

The secret to effective cheering

is waiting till a minor-league opponent

starts to think he's in the majors.

- Pep Squad, are you ready? - 'Yes!'

Here we go. I'm gettin' to the bottom of this.

Pikachu, Thunderbolt now.

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

Seviper.

Hello, over there.

Enough of the minor-league talk.

My Seviper is in major-league trouble.

SHERIDAN 'Perhaps you're right.'

'Pep Squad, prepare for a cheer.'

Drum number two.

Give us a -- count.

- Aromatherapy. - Aromatherapy?

That's a technique that helps Pokémon recover

when they're confused, or paralyzed.

Roselia and Vileplume both use that attack.

But why?

'Who's he tellin' it to?'

SHERIDAN 'Roselia, Vileplume, I'm waiting.'

Aromatherapy, now.

[AROMATHERAPY MOVE]

[FATIGUED]

Very good. And we're ready to go.

Can't be.

How did it recover so fast?

Because healing is a part of what we cheerleaders do, Brock.

Did he say healing?

Then the glow I saw wasAromatherapy.

But where was it coming from?

Drummer number one, give us another -- cadence.

Helping Hand.

He just said Helping Hand.

And that's a technique Plusle and Minun can use

for increasing a Pokémon 's attack power.

'Could it be?'

SHERIDAN 'Shroomish, Makuhita, now.'

[HELPING HAND MOVE]

He said Shroomish and Makuhita?

I guess they could learn it, too.

So, they're not restoring those Pokémon by cheerleading at all.

They're just doin' it by using Pokémon attacks.

[INVIGORATED]

Go, Seviper, Poison Tail.

[POISON TAIL MOVE]

[PAINED]

Pikachu!

It looks like that Poison Tail did a lot of damage.

Now, you see the power cheering can have.

Pikachu, Thunderbolt, now.

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

Aromatherapy.

[AROMATHERAPY MOVE]

[PAINED]

[REVITALIZED]

Thunderbolt didn't work? Try it one more time.

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

Aromatherapy.

[AROMATHERAPY MOVE]

[REVITALIZED]

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

Helping Hand.

[INVIGORATED]

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

Aromatherapy.

[AROMATHERAPY MOVE]

Helping Hand.

Aromatherapy.

[FATIGUED]

Pikachu. That's one really tough Seviper.

When the hearts and the minds of the Trainer and his cheerleader

are united, power can be restored to the Pokémon

'without using any attacks at all.'

That guy's just a big fat liar.

And I'm gonna make sure everyone finds out.

Helping Hand.

[INVIGORATED]

Go, Seviper, Poison Tail now.

[POISON TAIL MOVE]

[SCARED]

Pikachu, dodge it.

[POISON TAIL MOVE]

[PAINED]

Pikachu!

Wow, Pikachu's too tired to even dodge anymore.

MAY I know.

Even Ash can't defeat great cheering.

Nobody can.

Pikachu, are you okay?

[STRUGGLING]

Well, Ash. Maybe you should quit?

Okay, Seviper, Wrap.

[WRAP MOVE]

PIKACHU [PAINED]

Drummer number one, another -- rhythm, faster this time.

Helping Hand.

Alright, here goes.

[grunts]

My drums.

[gasps]

SEVIPER/PIKACHU [SHOCKED]

[PAINED]

[STUNNED]

What's this?

'That whole cheering routine is a scam.'

Ha! Cheerleading didn't revive those Pokémon.

It was that Shroomish and Makuhita

and Vileplume and Roselia using their attacks

from inside the drums the whole time.

[gasps]

That's totally against the rules.

I thought there was something wrong here.

What? Tell me it isn't so. Are you a fake?

- My beautiful scheme is ruined. - Master!

Everything you said was a lie? How could you?

- 'We trusted you.' - 'We believed in you.'

BOY 'And we paid a lot of money too.'

[shudders]

SHERIDAN Well, about that money, uh..

Got to go. I'll send you a check.

[shudders]

His cheering was annoying anyway. Who needs him.

Now's our chance to grab Pikachu, Seviper.

[INTENT]

SEVIPER/PIKACHU [WRAP MOVE]/[PAINED]

Pikachu, they were only beating us 'cause they cheated.

You and I have more power than their fake cheers

'cause of our friendship and trust.

[DETERMINED]

That's true.

Give me a break. Haze Attack.

[HAZE ATTACK MOVE]

[coughing]

Pikachu, fight it.

[AFFIRMATIVE]

[STRUGGLING]

Good, keep it up. Don't quit.

[DETERMINED]

Come on, Pikachu.

[CONFIDENT]

Okay, let's go. Use Thunder.

[THUNDER MOVE]

SEVIPER [PAINED]

PIKACHU [STUNNED]

Uh-oh, Seviper?

Seviper, unable to battle. Pikachu wins.

- 'The victory goes to Ash.' - Yeah, we did it.

[PLEASED]

What's worse, the cheering?

Or that friendship he blathers about?

The only good strategy is the original

Team Rocket strategy of evil.

So, prepare for trouble, and now listen to our cheer.

JAMES Making it double makes it perfectly clear.

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.

Aha! Jessie.

[laughs] James.

Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light.

Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, and fight.

Meowth, that's right.

[EMPHATIC]

Team Rocket. So it was you guys.

- But of course. - Hey, wait a minute here.

Where's that Super Robot you were supposed to show up with?

I used all our dough payin' that cheerleader guy.

We ain't got no more.

Hey, Pikachu's all worn out from battle.

We don't need a super robot to catch it now.

- Hm. - Hm. You got a point.

JESSIE And a good one.

So, why not? Here we go.

[ALARMED]

Pikachu, use your Thunderbolt to break free.

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[EXHAUSTED]

It didn't work.

It must have used up all its energy in that last battle.

Minun, Plusle, use your Helping Hand Attack on Pikachu.

[DETERMINED]

[HELPING HAND MOVE]

[EXHAUSTED]

[INVIGORATED]

Alright, Pikachu, Thunder.

[THUNDER MOVE]

TEAM ROCKET Huh?

You, did protect us against Electric Attacks

isn't that right, Meowth?

Uh, yeah, of course.

Then we should be fine.

But there could be a hitch.

Pikachu's Electric Attack being combined with a Helping Hand?

That I'm not so sure of.

JESSIE Huh, I should've known something like this would happen

once we got involved with all of those stuck-up cheerleaders.

Cheerleaders are not stuck up.

[WORRIED]

[screaming]

JAMES/MEOWTH/JESSIE Here we go.

Team Rocket's blasting off again!

[DELIGHTED]

[PLAYFUL]

You were great, Thatcher.

Your Helping Hand really saved us.

I guess.

- But I really messed up. - What?

Just watching you and Pikachu

seeing the way you stuck together

I realized, I've had it backwards the whole time.

'Being strong yourself is way more important'

'than relying on someone else to cheer you on.'

Bonds between you and your Pokémon

are what make a real Trainer.

Like you. The kind of Trainer Iwanna become someday.

You're so right.

I'm gonna get out of here and make a whole new start myself.

Speaking of that, how about a whole new start

on romance with me?

How about a whole new start on not being annoying?

BROCK 'Not the ear.'

- Know what? - Hm?

In a way, you're always gonna be my true Master.

Huh? Uh, come on, stop.

Remember, just keep practicing.

I will, and good luck to you in your Gym battle.

- Goodbye, thank you. - Goodbye, guys.

Thanks for everything. See you.

NARRATOR With a cheery farewell, Ash and Thatcher part ways again.

Both, with a renewed faith in the bonds between

Pokémon and Trainer.

But now, it's on to Lavaridge Town

and the next Gym battle.

♪ I will carry on ♪

♪ Yeah this dream will last forever ♪

♪ And this dream will never die ♪

♪ We will rise to meet the challenge every time ♪

♪ Advanced Challenge ♪

♪ Yeah this dream keeps us together ♪

♪ This shows that you and I ♪

♪ Will be the best that the world's ever seen ♪

♪ Cause we always will follow this dream ♪

♪ Po-ké-mon ♪♪