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This episode is essential viewing because: Ash and Gary reach the Pokémon League. Ash sees a Moltres.

Ash and his friends have arrived at the Indigo Plateau! Ash is really excited, and shouts. Misty wonders if hes going crazy, and Togepi starts crying. Misty consoles it, and Ash says he feels like hes goin to explode! Misty says hes starting to scare her. Brock says all the excitement is getting to him. Misty says shes never seen him so confident.

They come to a street with lots of people along the sides. Ash wonders if theyre there to cheer for him. But then they all run past him. A person carrying a torch comes running up, along with his Hitmonchan, and followed by a bus, and several police officers, including Jenny. Brock says its the torch! Misty says its to start the competition, or something like that. Its supposed to inspire the trainers to battle better. She says it was lit from the flames of Moltres! Ash checks his Pokedex, and it says that the flame of Moltres symbolizes the Pokémon League Competitions. Ash says that means Moltres must be real! Misty says that he has to catch it, doesnt he? He says hed train it like any other Pokémon! (Heh, if he caught Moltres, the world would be destroyed!)

Ash stupidly goes up to the guy with the torch, and says that hell take the torch from here! Jenny says that only competitors are allowed to carry it. Ash says he is, and doesnt she know him? She says no. Brock says they know her! He adds that Ash isnt too bright, and doesnt always think before doing something. Ash says that hes a competitior, so he can carry it! Jenny says only approved ones can. Just then, and old guy with a long white beard comes out on the top of the bus. Jenny says its President Goodshow. (Goodwill? Im not sure) He says to let Ash carry the torch! Ash asks if thats Santa Claus, and Pres. Goodshow falls off the bus. =)

Jenny introduces him as Charles Goodshow, the President of the Torch Carrying Something-or-other. Misty says he doesnt look like a President. Goodshow says that the competitions is about spirit, and he sees that Ash has spirit, so he should carry the torch! Later, we see Ash in his other clothes, and he has the torch! He tells Pikachu that they have to keep it safe. They start running, and all the people cheer and clap. Ash says thanks. But watching from a balloon above is Team Rocket! Meowth says if they got that flame, it would put them in the spotlight! James adds that they should alos get all the Pokémon they can!

Ash is still running, and the others are on the top of the bus. Ash says he hears something. The ground starts cracking suddenly, and the bus and police motorcycles fall into a huge pit! Jessie and James says their motto, and jump down from the balloon. eowth jumps on Ash and scratches him, causing him ot throw the torch! Meowth catchs it, but catches on fire! Pikachu catches it when he throws it. Meowth chases after Jessie and James, telling them to put out the fire! James sends Victreebel, and Victreebel puts its mouth over Meowth, but also sets on fire! They both start chasing Jessie and James.

Ash says he knows hell regret this, but he sends Squirtle and has it use Water Gun and put out the fires. Jessie says that he may have saved their lives, but they can still be mean! She says he Moltres flame would get a very good price. James tries to get the torch from Pikachu, but Pikachu tosses it away and shocks him. Jessie and Ash both catch it, and start trying to get it waway from the other. Squirtle tries to help Ash, but Meowth tickles Ash, and he lets go of the torch! Jessie gets it, and they fly away in their balloon.

Ash says that he failed, but Pres. Goodshow says not to worry! Jenny says theyll track Team Rocket down. Goodshow says Ash showed a lot of bravery. And the flame of Moltres will live on, and hell show them. He unzips his jacket, and pulls out a lantern with a flame in it! He says that the competition is close to his heart, so he keeps the flame close to his heart! Now they can relite the torch. Meanwhile, the one Team Rocket has is going out. Meowth turns it up, but too much, and it fries them all before going out completely.

A crane pulls the bus out of the pit. Afterwards, the torch is relit, and Ash starts running again. And the Pokémon Theme starts playing. Later, Misty gets to carry it, and she is also carrying Togepi. Then Brock does, with Vulpix running with him. Misty sees that theyre almost at the stadium! Pres. Goodshow says that the opening ceremonies will begin tomorrow. Brock says they made it! He gives the torch to Pres. Goodshow. He asks if theyll be at the opening ceremonies tomorrow, and they say yes.

They go to the Pokémon League village, which is where trainers stay during the competitions. They here a familiar voice saying that Ash is late as usual. Its Gary, along with his cheerleaders, who cheer for him. Gary says that Ash better hope tomorrow is his lucky day, because hell need luck to win. Ash syas Gary doesnt know what hes talking about! Ash says hes a great trainer! Gary says that you have to study what Pokémon the other trainers have in order to win. He tells the cheerleaders they should go before he catches loseritus. He leaves.

That night, Ash and the others are sleeping in a hotel or something like that. But Ash isnt sleeping. He remembers how Brock said the exitement was getting to him, and hiw Gary said that thing about catching loseritus. Ash thinks that hes going to win. He gets up, and gets dressed. He leaves, and Misty sees. She says she thinks hes scared. Ash goes out to the stadium. Pres. Goodshow is also there, but Ash doesnt see him. He sees Ash, though. Ash wonders is hes not ready. Is he no good? Pres. Goodwill says that he has spirit. Ash says that hell win and do his best!

The next morning, the opening ceremonies start with a, um, big ball thingy opening, and Pidgeys flying out. there are thousand of people cheering in the bleachers in the stadium. The announcer says that the opening ceremonies are beginning. The competitions are for trainers to prove themselves, and battle to become Pokémon Masters. He says that here come the trainers now, who have all earned a minimum of eight gym badges. Misty says shes excited, and she spots Ash. She says he looks nervous. Brock says Gary sure doesnt!

Now its time to lite the central torch, which is the big one at one side of the stadium. A girl carries the torch up to the top. But then, Jessie and James in disguises stop her. The announcer says they must be Pokémon League officials. Ash runs up the steps, saying not to give them the torch! But then Jessie takes the torch, and they throw off their disguises. Ash aks why they have to try to ruin everything? Meowth says they dont ruin everything! Ash runs at them, and James sends Weezing, and it uses Smog. Jessie lites the big torch! James says why settles with the little flame? A giant insectoid robot comes over, and they go inside.

The robot puts the big flame on its back. Pres. Goodshow says that they cant start the competition without it! Meowth says to start stealing Pokémon! James says lets go, and makes the robot jump down to the stadium floor. Ash has Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but it has no effect! James says the robot is shock proof. Ash sends Bulbasaur, and has it uses Razor Leaf, but the flames from the torch burn the leaves up and make it bigger! Team Rocket uses the robot to pin Ash and his Pokémon against a wall.

Misty shouts at Ash to run! He says he wont! He came here to compete in the Pokémon League, and he wont let Team Rocket wreck it! He says to take their best shot! They uses the big torch to shoot a huge blast of fire at Ash! But it isnt hurting them! Meowth says what?! The flame starts swirling in the air, and forms into the shape of Moltres! Pres. Goodhsow says that Moltres is back! The fire bird hits the robot, and its explodes, sending Team Rcket flying. Then the flames return to the big torch. The announcer says that opening ceremonies can continue!

Pres. Goodshow welcomes the trainers, and says how this competition is special, and for trainers who love Pokémon. He says to battle valiantly, and keep Moltres flame alive! The crowd cheers. Ash quietly thanks Moltres. Now hes made it to the Pokémon League.

This episode guide has been written by flik.

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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