We’ve finally arrived at Lavaridge town, which, as it turns out, is famous for hot springs. They want to take a sand-bath, but Ash reminds them that they came to earn his fourth badge – so that comes first.
Team Rocket has arrived as well, and they’re dead tired from following Ash around. They take a dip in the hot springs, but only Jesse is enthused.
Arriving at the gym our heroes find it empty… well, except for the girl running around with her pants on fire. Brock has Mudkyp put her out and Brock promptly decides that he loves her. The girl was practicing with her two slugma and they accidentally caught her on fire. Her name is Flannery and she is thrilled about Ash’s challenge. She says it’s all hers, but Brock says the gym is run by an older man named Mr. Moore. Flannery doesn’t answer, instead she releases her Torkle and starts to battle Ash. But Max reminds them that they have to be on an official field. But the field is a bit of a mess. Evidently her last opponent used dig a lot and she forgot to clean up after. They take a break and find out that Mr. Moore was her grandfather, and she’s been the gym leader for three days…
Her grandfather was a great gym leader until he got into pokemon poetry. A book inspired him to travel and write poetry, so he left for a year-long excursion. That’s how she got to be gym leader. Ash volunteers to help clean up so they can battle. Max, May and Brock know a bit about gym leading so they can help.
It turns out that Mr. Moore didn’t actually leave yet – he’s hiding though because he can’t come back after the send off they gave him. But he’s worried about Flannery, especially when he sees Ash and co having to help her clean… Team Rocket is watching the gym too, and want to steal Torkle, until they notice the man watching the gym. They think he might be Team Magma or Aqua…
Max and Brock ask if Flannery has any heat badges in case Ash wins, but she doesn’t know where to find them. Her grandfather, in disguise comes and “finds” the badges. Next they ask if she has a judge. She doesn’t because one of her grandfather’s students used to do it, but he’s on vacation. Another ‘stranger’ appears. It’s Mr. Moore in disguise and he claims to be a judge. Max says that her grandfather should have left her better prepared when he left and that he was irresponsible. He keeps coughing as they talk about him without realizing it is him…
Team Rocket appears in disguise, pretending to be a professional pokemon field maintenance team. They recognize the man, and he recognizes them… they decide to watch one another. Team Rocket tries to nab Torkle and Mr. Moore notices. They reveal themselves and battle, but Team Rocket manages to escape with Torkle. They chase after and Ash starts to send out Taillow to pop the balloon, but the man sends out a Wingull. Flannery notes that her grandfather has one of those. And when he interrupts Ash’s attack by calling out Typhlosion she mentions that her grandfather had one of those too… Flannery sends out Mag, one of her slugma, to battle Cacnea while Typhlosion battles Saviper. Max and May sneak over and let Torkle out. Meowth tries to stop them, but Mag burns him. During the battle it evolves into a Macargo. When the man cheers they discover that he is actually Flannery’s grandfather. After Team Rocket quirks their brows because the guy was spying on his own house the battle continues and Ash gets to send Team Rocket blasting off again.
Mr. Moore reveals that he came back because he was worried about Flannery. Which Max points out wouldn’t have been necessary if he’d left her better prepared.
Finally the field is finished, but it ‘s late so Mr. Moore says the battle can wait until tomorrow. Mr. Moore offers them a sand-bath, which they gratefully accept. Oh… and Mr. Moore’s a pretty lousy poet…
Location: Lavaridge town
Gym Leader: Flannery
Notes: They call it a “village” when they talk about her grandfather leaving. But it’s obviously a huge town.
Love James! He finally shot down one of Meowth’s ridiculous boss impressions. And he’s right… a lighter would be much better than a fire pokemon…
Gotta love it when TR calls other people creeps for doing the same thing they are doing.
Brock keeps saying “I’ve never heard of that before.” And sounding very skeptical about the disguised persons ‘organizations’. He’s actually being intelligent!