This episode is essential viewing because: Ash leaves his Charizard in the Charicific Valley so that it can become stronger.

Ash and friends are walking along a mountain trail. Ash says he wishes he had as many badges as he had blisters. Misty tells him he can't expect to win badges when all of his battles are against Team Rocket. In another part of the mountains, Team Rocket, are watching the trio. They hear Misty saying 'it wouldn't mean much if they gave out badges for beating those pathetic losers.' Even Jessie and James agree.

Team Rocket discuss the situation. Jessie suggests they pick on someone else for a change and James points out that 'the twerps' have 12 Pokémon compared to their few. Back with our heroes, Misty and Brock are giving Ash an earful about him always using Charizard all the time. They say it's unfair. Team Rocket all shout agreement and their cry echoes through the valley. Elsewhere a girl with green hair, a red outfit and a cane wonders where the noise came from.

The girl uses the echo to her advantage, calling for Charla. Our heroes having met her, Brock refers to his guide book: the Charisific Valley is a well known natural habitat for Charizard, off limits to tourists. The girl introduces herself as Lisa, a Charizard trainer. She can tell by the scent on Ash that he owns a Charizard himself and says she has wanted to meet him ever since hearing of his victory over the Violet City gym leader.

She invites them to the Valley to see all the Charizard and Brock quickly accepts. Lisa calls Charla again and a Charizard with a pink bow on it's head comes round the mountain. Attatched to the back of it is a a hot air balloon with room for only two in the basket (Misty and Brock). Ash will have to ride on his Charizard's back. Ash calls out Charizard and asks for a ride but it refuses. Already up in the air, Lisa calls down to Charizard, asking if Ash is too heavy for him.

Charizard eventually lets Ash on and, as it attempts to take off, he falls off without Charizard knowing. After a second attempt they take off, flying unsteadily. In the basket Misty learns from Lisa, via a handy telephone, that Charla is the only non-wild Charizard in the valley. She is also told Lisa has to protect the Charizard from poachers. By now, Ash has caught up, but all of a sudden Charizard comes to a stop and plummets towards a canyon.

After taking off again, Charizard flies into a forest, where it must dodge the trees. Making it out of the forest the pair then fall into another canyon. Arriving at the valley, Misty and Brock admire the giant Charizard statues. Eventually, Ash and Charizard struggle up to the gates. Lisa thinks Ash's Charizard is too weak and needs more training and tells it so. Ash defends Charizard, challenging Lisa to a battle against her Charla. Lisa refuses as Charla is not wild.

Lisa then opens the gates to the valley, revealing a number of massive Charizard. Lisa pick's the smallest (still twice the size of Ash's!) to battle. Charizard goes up and does a flamethrower, while the opponent is not looking. The Charizard in this valley don't like sneak attacks. The large Charizard blast Ash's to the ground with a powerful Flamethrower. It stands up and shakes it off. Lisa points to another, the gentlest. Charizard goes up to it and wakens it, then using flamethrower. The gentle Charizard sends it flying with a tail whip.

Charizard, having battled the two weakest Charizard in the valley, obviously cannot compete. Ash reassures it, it's still perfect for him. But it is still determined to fight and approaches the gentle Charizard again. Ash, Misty and Brock tell Charizard to forfeit but it continues. The stronger, gentler Charizard stomps on Charizard and then knees it through the gates. Charizard crawls back up the steps, but Lisa closes the gates and tells Ash to come back when Charizard's had more training.

Meanwhile, having seen Charizard being beaten, Team Rocket realise they have no chance of stealing the wild Pokémon. Jessie says they may have a chance if they use their new weapon - a giant robot boy. Charizard is continually pounding on the door. She let's him battle Charla, who just flings him in the water. Lisa says to Charizard that truly great Pokémon know their limitations and tells him to cool off think of a way to improve himself.

Ash notices that Charizard has been in the same position until dusk. He must decide whether to let Charizard stay. Team Rocket, feeling sorry for Charizard, decide to help it get into the valley. Spying, through a hole in the gates, Lisa and Charla both agree Charizard has a lot of heart. Our heroes eventually doze off, but Team Rocket keep Charizard awake by throwing stones at it. Next morning, Ash awakens to see that Charizard has lasted the night. He decides if it wants to get stronger that badly, it would be wrong to stand in the way.

Team Rocket appear in their robot boy and try to break down the gates. Charizard jumps in front of it and uses a flamethrower on it, eventually making it explode. Team Rocket don't mind as they were helping. Lisa opens the gates and decides to let Charizard train with them. Ash asks why she changed her mind. She replies it has proven it wants to be great. Ash decides to let Charizard stay. Charizard looks shocked but Ash orders it to go. He runs off crying, thinking about some of the good times they shared, and quietly says goodbye. Pikachu is the last to follow. Charizard gives it the thumb up and Pikachu does it back. Ash just keeps on running. (I recommend some tissues for this episode!)

This episode guide has been written by AR.

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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