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This episode is essential viewing because: Ash catches a Heracross.

Still on their way to Violet City, where Ash hopes to win his first Johto League Badge at the Violet Gym, Ash & Co. are strolling through a forest when they come across some trees completely stripped of their leaves. They begin to wonder what the cause is, when Pikachu notices a group of Heracross feasting on the sap of a nearby tree. Ash decide to try and catch all the Heracross, both to get some new Pokémon and to save the tree, when a man appears behind the group. He tells Ash that he is free to try and catch the Heracross, but that if he does he may end up causing the forest more harm than good. Ash asks the man who he is, so he introduces himself as Woodruff, a forest ranger. Ash & Co. introduce themselves as well. Woodruff tells them that they can catch as many Heracross as they like, but the Butterfree of the forest need the Heracross to live with them side by side. Ash asks how it helps the Butterfree when, as if to prove a point, a group of Butterfree arrive and begin feeding off the sap the Heracross had dug to. Ash & Co. realise that, since the Butterfree are too weak to dig into the tree to get the sap, the Heracross do it instead and once they've eaten their fill the Butterfree come and clean up the rest. Woodruff then goes on to tell Ash & Co. that the forest is in danger from a dangerous band of invaders. They wonder what the invaders are, but it soon becomes clear when a large group of Pinsir arrive, scaring the Butterfree away. Woodruff explains that if they aren't stopped they will end up sucking the whole forest dry. The Heracross look to be ready to attack the Pinsir and reclaim their tree, but the Pinsir manage to scare them all away. Woodruff tells Ash & Co. that the Heracross could fight the Pinsir off, but that they are too peaceful.

Ash then notices a lone Butterfree still in the tree, surrounded by the Pinsir. A Heracross appears to defend the Butterfree, but the Pinsir start attacking it. Ash sends out Bulbasaur and orders it to use Vine Whip, knocking the Pinsir off of the tree and allowing the Butterfree to escape. Heracross seems too exhausted to fly away, and the Pinsir jump back onto the tree. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, knocking them back off again. They try to attack Pikachu, but it manages to evade them. Ash orders Pikachu to use Thunder, which sends the Pinsir running. Ash tells that Heracross that it can come down, which it does. It then wanders over to Bulbasaur and starts sucking the pollen from the bulb on it's back. Bulbasaur doesn't take kindly to this and uses Vine Whip to knock it off. Ash assumes that, with the Pinsir scared off, things in the forest should return to normal for the Heracross and Butterfree, but Woodruff tells him that it won't be long before the Pinsir return. He elaborates, explaining that the Heracross and the Pinsir used to live in peace because they each had their own forest, but recently something had been driving the Pinsir across the river separating the two forests. Ash & Co. volunteer to help Woodruff investigate, much to Misty's reluctance.

On their way to the Pinsir forest, using Bulbasaur's Razor Leaf to clear some thick undergrowth, they notice that they are being followed by the Heracross. Misty thinks it's just after Bulbasaur, so Bulbasaur launches a couple of Razor Leaf at it to keep it away. Once they get through the worst of the thick undergrowth, Ash recalls Bulbasaur. They soon come to a huge canyon separating the two forests. Ash asks if they will need to climb down then back up the other side, but Woodruff tells them that there is an old rope bridge a little further upstream.

Arriving at the rope bridge, they notice that it has been cut up. Misty notices the Pinsir making their own way across by jumping from some branches growing out the side of the canyon. Ash thinks the Pinsir were the ones to cut the bridge, but Woodruff explains that the cuts are too neat and that they must have been sawn through by a human. While wondering how to cross the canyon, Misty notices the Heracross attacking a tree. She assumes that it is still after the sap and shouts at it, but Brock thinks it has a plan. This soon becomes apparent when the Heracross manages to push to tree over, thus creating a crossing.

After arriving on the other side of the river, with Heracross still following them, Woodruff tells them that they have to be alert as they are almost at the Pinsir's forest. He then points out a huge tree, telling them that it is where the Pinsir live. They soon arrive at the tree and notice a giant Pinsir sat near the top. Misty says that she didn't know Pinsir could grow that big, and Woodruff says that they don't; the thing in the tree is a robot!

Misty begins to wonder who would have built it when Team Rocket arrive, reciting their motto. They explain that a few days ago they were walking through the forest, hungry, when they came across the Pinsir's tree. After tasting the sap and hearing Meowth comment that it tastes better than maple syrup, Jessie had the idea of opening a pancake house and putting the sap on the pancakes. They soon realised that the pancake house idea wasn't much good, so decided to build the mechanical Pinsir to suck up all of the sap in the forest so they can sell it on. Brock realises that the reason the Pinsir are invading is because Team Rocket is taking all of their food. Ash & Co. get angry about this, but Team Rocket don't seem to care and send out their Pokémon to attack. When Victreebell doesn't attack him, James notices something is wrong and finds it at the tree, eating the sap. Jessie's Lickitung does the same. With their Pokémon indisposed, Meowth decides to attack Ash & Co. with the mechanical Pinsir instead. Ash sends out Bulbasaur and orders it to use Razor Leaf, but it doesn't leave a scratch. He orders it to use Vine Whip, spinning the robot around, and then orders Pikachu to use Thundershock, but this just recharges the mechanical menace. Meowth moves a lever on his control box, sending an electric attack back at Ash & Co. He then sends the Pinsir robot towards them getting it ready to attack when, just in the nick of time, Heracross appears and begins to wrestle the robot. The Pinsir robot seems to get the upper hand at one bit, but Heracross manages to hang on. While Heracross is keeping the robot busy, Ash & Co. go around the back and remove the sap tanks from the robot's back. As this is happening, Team Rocket start to fight over the controls and end up breaking the control box. Ash tells Heracross that they are ready to go, so it uses it's horn to send the Pinsir robot flying. It lands on Team Rocket, explodes, and sends them blasting off.

With Team Rocket gone all of the Pinsir return to their forest, leaving the Heracross and Butterfree in peace.

Back in the Heracross forest, Ash & Co. thank the Heracross for all of it's help, telling it how brave it was and how much they will miss it. They say goodbye to Woodruff and the Heracross and continue on their way to Violet City.

While on their way out of the forest, Pikachu's ears prick up as it hears something. They all turn around and notice the Heracross still following them. Ash asks if it wants to go with them, which it nods at. Ash throws a Pokeball at it, catching his first Pokémon in the Johto region. Ash & Co. then continue on their journey towards Violet City after making a new addition to their group of friends.

This episode guide has been written by The Librarian.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Brock

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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