Episode Number: 132 (JP) , 130 (US)
US Episode Name: A Bout with Sprout
Jap Episode Name: Big Pinch! Tower of Madatsubomi!
だいピンチ！マダツボミのとう！
Events: We see the Sprout Tower for the first time.
Credit: --------------------
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Ash and co. run up a hill. At the top they see Violet City. Ash can't wait to battle the gym leader in Violet City. Later, Ash and co. have arrived in Violet City, and they are searching for the gym. Brock looks at his guide book and tells his friends that the gym isn't too far away. Suddenly, they notice that two kids are playing with Ash's Pikachu. A girl and a boy are pulling on Pikachu because they both want to play with it. Pikachu is about to shock them, when Ash runs over and grabs Pikachu. Ash is shocked instead. Ash tells them that the Pikachu belongs to him. A teacher runs out and tells the kids that they should be in class. The boy tells the teacher that he was trying to capture a Pikachu. The teacher apologizes to Ash. Brock immediately falls in love with the teacher and tells her that it's no problem. The boy assumes that Ash is a Pokémon trainer. When Ash tells him that he is the boy gets excited because he wants to become a trainer when he graduates from the Pokémon Academy. The teacher explains to Ash and co. that the Pokémon Academy is a place where young students can learn all about Pokémon. The teacher introduces herself as Ms. Priscilla. Brock announces that they will help the students learn about Pokémon instead of going to the Violet City gym.
When Ash and co. goes inside the academy, they are welcomed by the prinicpal of the school, Mr. Earl Durbish, who likes to dance. Misty asks Ms. Priscilla if he dances all the time, and she says that she loves someone who can dance with a lot of energy. Brock joins the dance too, and they do a duet. Afterwards, Ash begins the teaching. He explains about all his Pokémon battles and how he was in the top sixteen at the Indigo League. Zackie, the boy from earlier, doesn't think Ash is special because he didn't win. Misty suggests that they all go inside to meet their Pokémon.
When they all get outside, Brock starts off by sending out his Pokémon. Onix, Zubat, Geodude, and Vulpix all pop out of their Pokéballs. Next up is Misty. Psyduck, Goldeen, Poliwag, and Staryu come out. Then Ash sends out his Pokémon. Heracross, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Charizard, and Chikorita come out. All of the students are having fun with the Pokémon. Brock then sees a tower and he asks Ms. Priscilla the name of the tower. Ms. Priscilla tells Brock that it is the Sprout Tower. She explains that the tower is supported by one beam that sways just like a Bellsprout. Ms. Priscilla adds in that she is taking the students to see the Sprout Tower, so Ash and friends can come along, too.
Zackie stares at Pikachu, which makes Pikachu a little nervous. Zackie tells Pikachu to abandon Ash and become his trainer. Pikachu disagrees, so Zackie topples over Pikachu. Pikachu shocks Zackie to free itself from Zackie's hands. Ash walks over and wonders what's going on. Zackie tells Ash that he wants his Pikachu, and Ash knows that he can't give it to him. Zackie begins to whine. He quickly gets up and steals one of Ash's empty Pokéballs. Zackie says that he can capture Pikachu with the Pokéball, and he begins to chase Pikachu outside school campus and into the forest. Ms. Priscilla hopes that everything will be okay. Ash returns all of his Pokémon back into their Pokéballs and runs out to find Zackie.
Zackie calls out for Pikachu. He sees Pikachu's ears from behind a bush, and Zackie throws the Pokéball. The ball captures a Pokémon, and Zackie thinks that it's Pikachu. Ash is surprised that Zackie captured Pikachu. Zackie begins to run away with the Pokéball, and Ash chases him. Ash catches up to Zackie and orders him to give back the Pokéball. Suddenly, the ground underneath them collapses, and they fall into a deep hole. Team Rocket comes out, and they recite their motto. Team Rocket thanks Zackie for capturing Pikachu for them. Zackie wants to battle Team Rocket himself. He throws the Pokéball and out comes a Bellsprout.
The Bellsprout sways back and forth. Team Rocket comes up with a plan. They know that Pikachu will come if Ash is in trouble. Team Rocket hides in a tree, and they use their megaphones to disguise their voice as Ash. This lures Pikachu in Team Rocket's trap. Ash quickly tells Pikachu to run away because of the trap. Team Rocket throws a net, but Pikachu dodges it. Ash and Zackie use the net to help themselves out of the hole. Pikachu then uses Thunderbolt on Team Rocket, and they blast off again.
Meanwhile, Misty, Brock, Ms. Priscilla, and the other students are at the Sprout Tower. Misty and Brock finally see the swaying beam themselves. Ms. Priscilla explains that whenever trainers stop by in Violet City, the Sprout Tower reminds them of themselves when they were just starting out as Pokémon trainers. Team Rocket has landed on the roof of the Sprout Tower. They peak down and hear the conversation of Ms. Priscilla and the others. They realize that Ash will be on his way over, and they come up with a plan.
Ash and Zackie are walking on the road towards the Sprout Tower. Bellsprout is walking with them. Zackie isn't too fond of Bellsprout because he wants Pikachu. Ash thinks that Zackie should make the best out of Bellsprout. Meanwhile, Team Rocket has already begun their plan. James sends out Weezing. Weezing uses Smokescreen. The smoke is a signal that a fire is nearby, and Misty, Brock, and Ms. Priscilla gather up the students and leave. Zackie asks Ash if he would like to trade Bellsprout for Pikachu. Ash immediately declines Zackie's offer. Suddenly, they see smoke coming from the Sprout Tower. Ash meets up with Misty and Brock, who reports that everyone is okay.
Ash sends out Squirtle, and Misty sends out Poliwag. Both Pokémon uses Water Gun, but the attacks aren't doing anything. Team Rocket appears on top of the Sprout Tower. They invite Ash and co. in to see what they've done to the place. Arbok, Lickitung, and Weezing have a saw, and they are cutting off a chunk of the beam. Tied to the beam is a giant rocket. Ash and co. run inside the tower, and they see the chaos. Meowth plans on sending the swaying beam into space as soon as the Pokémon are done sawing it. Ms. Priscilla begs Team Rocket to stop their plan. Jessie tells them that they will stop once they have Pikachu. Ash doesn't want to give them Pikachu, but Pikachu steps forward into Jessie's arms. Then Pikachu shocks Jessie, but the attack does nothing. Team Rocket explains that they all came prepared with rubber gloves to block the electricity. James and Meowth tie up Pikachu.
Ash tries to think of something. He is about to get out a Pokéball when Meowth orders him to stop, or else Meowth will blow up the tower. Bellsprout tugs on Zackie's shirt. Zackie and Bellsprout begin to communicate with each other. Bellsprout uses Razor Leaf. The leaf knocks the remote out of Meowth's hands. Arbok grabs the remote, but Squirtle's Water Gun knocks it out of Arbok's mouth. Ash sends out Bulbasaur, who grabs the remote with its vines. Bellsprout then hits Weezing and Lickitung with Razor Leaf. Meowth orders his team to grab ahold onto the rocket. Meowth presses a button on the rocket, and the rocket ignites. Bulbasaur and Bellsprout use their Razor Leaf attacks to free Pikachu from Team Rocket. Then they use Razor Leaf to cut the ropes that are tying the rocket together to the beam. The rocket freely moves, and Team Rocket blasts off again.
Everyone heads back to the school. It is time for Ash, Misty, and Brock to depart. Ash wishes Zackie the best of luck with his new Bellsprout. Zackie can't wait for his Bellsprout to evolve, so that he can battle Ash one day. Ash and co. wave goodbye, and they continue their way towards the Violet City gym.
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