Summery:
We start off where we left off: with Ash and Misty arguing once again and Brock acting as mediator. This time they are arguing over a shortcut they tried to take to get to Vermilion City but instead got them lost. They decide to take a rest and happen to see an Oddish drinking some water. Ash wants to catch it, but Misty stops him saying that since the Oddish was next to water, she gets it. Calling her Starmie, she successfully weakens it, but as she throws her pokéball, a Bulbasaur knocks it away. The Bulbasaur tackles Starmie, so Ash calls out his Butterfree. However, it is also defeated, and Bulbasaur escapes with the Oddish. Ash, hoping to find more Bulbasaur, crosses over a wooden suspension bridge, but suddenly, one of the ropes breaks and the gang has to cling on for dear life. Brock isn't able to hold on and falls into the rapids below getting swept away. After finally making it to the other side, Ash and Misty run down to the river to find Brock. As they travel, Team Rocket is on the look out for a rumored secret village with lots of pokémon. Suddenly, Ash, Misty and Pikachu get caught up in a net. After a long time struggling to get out, Brock shows up and frees them. He explains that as he was washed down the river, he was saved by a "beautiful girl." He brings them to the girl who's name is Melanie. She has a little village she uses as a "pokémon health spa" in order to take care of sick, injured, and abandoned pokémon. Brock makes the others promise not to try and capture pokémon, especially because he has the hots for Melanie, which Misty embarrassingly points out. As the gang helps Melanie out, Misty apologizes to the Oddish she tried to capture before. Suddenly, Bulbasaur shows up and tackles her. Ash wants to battle it, but Melanie explains that Bulbasaur acts as the village guard and makes sure that none of the sick pokémon get taken by trainers. Melanie explains further that she set up traps to keep trainers away - the same traps that caught Ash and Misty and the same ones that are trapping Team Rocket as they try to find the village. Bulbasaur wants Ash and the others to leave because he distrusts them and thinks they are going to take the sick pokémon. But before any of that can get resolved, Team Rocket shows up with their motto and a big vacuum to suck away the pokémon.
Ash helps Bulbasaur rescue Oddish, and Bulbasaur seems to be beginning to trust Ash. Working together, Ash's Pidgeotto and Bulbasaur are able to blow Team Rocket away. After all the commotion is over, Melanie asks Ash if he thinks Bulbasaur would be a good addition to his team. Ash says yes, of course, but Bulbasaur wants to stay in the village. Melanie explains, however, that staying at the village is bad for Bulbasaur because it isn't able to learn and grow. She wants Ash to take it with him so that it can become stronger and better. Misty and Brock worry that then there will be no one to protect the village, but Melanie reasons that Bulbasaur does too good of a job of protecting the village. Once the injured or abandoned pokémon regains its health, it should leave to go back in the wild or find new trainers, but because the village is too safe with Bulbasaur, none of the pokémon leave and then cannot grow. They all understand, but Bulbasaur won't go down without a fight. He will only join Ash's team if he can be defeated in battle. And so, Ash sends out his Pikachu against Bulbasaur. Some tackles are exchanged, but Bulbasaur is finally able to wrap up Pikachu is his special attack vine whip. Ashnorders Pikachu to use thunderbolt and the electricity conducts along the vines to shock Bulbasaur. Ash then successfully captures Bulbasaur. As they depart, Ash promises Melanie that he'll take care of Bulbasaur, but before they can get far, Ash and Misty are at it again, arguing about which way will take them to Vermilion City, which leaves, Brock, Pikachu, and Bulbasaur frustrated. Then the gang leave for more adventures in future episodes. |
