Episode Number: 154 (JP) , 152 (US)
US Episode Name: Hot Matches!
Jap Episode Name: Eaamudo VS Hinoarashi! Wings of Steel!!
エアームドVSヒノアラシ！はがねのつばさ!!
Events: Ash does some training with Cyndaquil
Credit: --------------------
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Ash and co. are continuing once again on their journey towards Goldenrod City. They walk out of the Pokémon Center. Immediately a trainer holding a Growlithe runs into Ash. He apologizes and says that his Growlithe is in bad shape. He explains how he battled a trainer and lost. Ash asks where the trainer is located at, and the trainer tells him that the trainer is in the mountains. He warns them to stay away, and then he rushes into the Pokémon Center. Despite the trainer's warning, Ash and co. decide to go into the mountains to find the tough trainer.
Ash and co. walk their way towards the mountains. They wonder what kind of Pokémon the trainer has. Team Rocket is hiding in the bushes. They notice that Ash is going to battle. They plan to steal Ash's Pokémon when they are tired out from the battle. Ash and co. arrive at the top of the mountain. Misty spots a trainer near the edge of a cliff. The trainer turns around. Brock immediately falls in love with her and runs up to her. He asks for the trainer's name. She introduces herself as Mickey. Brock tells Mickey that there's a tough trainer around, and that she shouldn't be out in the mountains alone. Mickey smiles and challenges Brock to a battle.
Ash and Misty realize that Mickey must be the tough trainer. Brock accepts Mickey's challenge. Mickey wants Brock to use a fire type Pokémon. She sends out a Skarmory. Ash looks up Skarmory in his Pokédex. Mickey explains that Skarmory is a steel type Pokémon, and for some reason steel types are weak against fire types. Ash asks Mickey why she wants Brock to use a fire type. Mickey tells them that Skarmory is already strong against the other types. She wants to challenge Skarmory a bit, so she wants trainers to use fire types. Brock sends out Vulpix for the battle. Meanwhile, Team Rocket walks up and sees the Skarmory. James says that Skarmory are very rare Pokémon. Team Rocket plans to steal it.
The battle begins. Skarmory starts off by swooping down near Vulpix. It creates a dust storm, and then flies all the way up in the air so that its speed increases. Then with great speed, Skarmory dives towards Vulpix. Vulpix attacks with Flamethrower, but Skarmory uses its Agility to dodge the attacks. Vulpix uses its Agility to try and get away from Skarmory, but Skarmory is way too fast for Vulpix. Skarmory uses Steel Wing on Vulpix. Vulpix is knocked out, and Mickey wins the battle. Brock congratulates Mickey for her victory. Mickey wonders if he has any other fire type Pokémon. Brock doesn't, but Ash steps in and wants to battle. He sends out Cyndaquil, and the battle begins.
Ash orders Cyndaquil to get its flame started, or else they will lose. Cyndaquil tries but nothing comes out. Skarmory uses Fury Attack, but Cyndaquil dodges the attacks. Mickey notices that Cyndaquil is good on defense. Ash tells Cyndaquil to get its flame started. Cyndaquil tries hard, but it can't get it started. Skarmory then uses Swift and hits Cyndaquil with it. Skarmory follows up with a Fury Attack. Cyndaquil tries its Agility to dodge the attacks, but it ends up getting hit by Skarmory. Once again, Ash commands Cyndaquil to get its flame lit. Cyndaquil tries extra hard this time, and its flame lights up. Cyndaquil then uses Flamehthrower, but Skarmory dodges it and uses Swift again. Cyndaquil gets hit by the Swift attack and falls to the ground. Skarmory then charges towards Cyndaquil with a Steel Wing. Cyndaquil uses Flamethrower before it is hit, but Skarmory ends up dodging the attack. Ash orders Cyndaquil to get out of the way before it is too late.
Suddenly, two mechanical claws reach down and grab Skarmory and Cyndaquil. Team Rocket appears above in their balloon, and they say their motto. Ash and Mickey demand for their Pokémon back. Team Rocket refuses, and they leave. Skarmory begins to struggle. It uses Swift to cut the rope, and then it falls. Brock ends up catching Skarmory. However, Team Rocket still has Cyndaquil captured. Ash and Pikachu continue to chase after Cyndaquil. Team Rocket has Cyndaquil in a cage, and they think that Ash should just give up. Suddenly, Skarmory approaches Team Rocket. It uses its Steel Wing to puncture a hole in their balloon. Cyndaquil's cage falls out of the balloon, and Ash catches it. Then Team Rocket blasts off again. Ash takes Cyndaquil out of its cage. Misty, Brock, and Mickey meet up with Ash. Mickey thanks Skarmory for saving Cyndaquil.
Who's That Pokémon?
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At night, Mickey invites Ash and co. to her house, and Brock cooks up a great meal. Ash asks Mickey if she used any secret techniques to train Skarmory. Mickey tells him that she does everything with her Skarmory. She even trains with it. Ash wants to do the same with Cyndaquil. The next morning, Ash takes Cyndaquil out for a run. Cyndaquil is tired, but Ash pushes Cyndaquil. He tells Cyndaquil that they have to train tough to be even with Skarmory. The first thing they have to do is get Cyndaquil's flame lit up faster, otherwise they will always be at a disadvantage.
Ash orders Cyndaquil to hit him with its best Tackle attack. Cyndaquil hesitates at first, but it does tackle Ash very lightly. Ash tells Cyndaquil to do it again and with more muscle. Cyndaquil tackles Ash again. Ash noticed a difference between the two Tackle attacks, but he's not satisfied. He tells Cyndaquil to concentrate hard enough so that its flame can light up. Cyndaquil tries its best, but it still can't get its flame to light up. Ash thinks that Cyndaquil needs to be warmed up first.
To get Cyndaquil warmed up, they decide to practice their defense attacks. Ash orders Cyndaquil to use Agility. Cyndaquil begins to jump from rock to rock with good speed, but Ash knows Cyndaquil can do better. Cyndaquil uses Agility faster. Ash is impressed with Cyndaquil's work. Meanwhile, Misty, Brock, and Mickey are eating breakfast. Mickey noticed that Ash left very early in the morning. Misty assumes that Ash went out for some training since he was impressed with Skarmory. Brock thinks that it might be serious since Ash skipped breakfast.
Ash and Cyndaquil are hungry, but they keep on training. Ash orders Cyndaquil to hit him with a Tackle attack again. Cyndaquil tackles Ash, and Ash falls over near an apple tree. He tells Cyndaquil that it's getting stronger, but they still need to work on getting Cyndaquil's flame lit up. Ash spots some apples on the tree. He decides to take a break. He begins to pick some apples from the tree. However, in the tree are wild Beedrill, and they begin to chase Ash and Cyndaquil. Ash trips and falls to the ground. The Beedrill are getting closer. Cyndaquil steps in front of Ash and powers up its flames. Then it uses Flamethrower to scare the Beedrill away. Ash realizes that Cyndaquil started up its flame to save him. He tells Cyndaquil that all it has to do is remember how it started up its flame.
Ash and Cyndaquil does some more training. Ash throws a stick up into the air. Cyndaquil uses its Flamethrower attack, but it misses. Ash tells Cyndaquil to work on its aim too and not just its flames. Ash throws a few more sticks into the air, and Cyndaquil hits them all with its Flamethrower attack. Ash notices that Cyndaquil is getting a lot better. Meanwhile, Mickey is grooming her Skarmory. Misty and Brock notice that Skarmory is enjoying it a lot. Then Ash and Cyndaquil come back from their training. Ash asks Mickey for a rematch, and Mickey accepts Ash's challenge.
The battle begins. Immediately, Cyndaquil gets its flames lit up. Ash and Cyndaquil are off to a good start. Skarmory flies up into the air, and then it dives down towards Cyndaquil with a Fury Attack. Cyndaquil uses Smokescreen to confuse Skarmory. Then it uses Flamethrower, but Skarmory dodges the flames. Skarmory uses Steel Wing, but Cyndaquil uses its Agility to dodge the attack. Then Cyndaquil uses rapid Flamethrower attacks, but Skarmory dodges them all with its Agility. Misty notices that Cyndaquil is just as fast as Skarmory. Brock states that they will have to eventually attack each other since they can't keep on dodging attacks. Mickey says that they should have their Pokémon use their best attacks and see which one wins.
Skarmory uses Steel Wing, and Cyndaquil uses Flamethrower. Skarmory takes a direct hit from the Flamethrower, but it still is able to keep on going. It hits Cyndaquil with its Steel Wing attack. Cyndaquil is severely damaged from the attack, but it is still able to stand up. Skarmory flies up high again, and then it dives down with another Steel Wing. Cyndaquil uses Flamethrower again. Skarmory takes the hit, and it hits Cyndaquil again with its attack. Mickey is surprised that Cyndaquil was able to endure two Steel Wing attacks. However, Cyndaquil is able to get up, and its flames get hotter than before. Skarmory uses Steel Wing again, but Cyndaquil dodges it. Skarmory follows up with a Fury Attack, and Cyndaquil dodges those attacks, too. Brock notices that Skarmory is worn out. Skarmory only has one last chance to win the battle. It uses its final Steel Wing attack. Cyndaquil dodges the attack, and Skarmory crashes into a boulder. Then Cyndaquil uses its Flamethrower on Skarmory. Skarmory gets damaged from the direct attack. Finally, with a Tackle attack from Cyndaquil, Skarmory faints and Ash is declared the winner.
Mickey returns Skarmory back into its Pokéball. She congratulates Ash for winning. Brock wonders if Mickey will stay in the mountains for some more training. Mickey says that she had made a mistake. She plans on going out and battling as many gym leaders as she can find. Misty wonders if Mickey will make it into the Johto League. She might, and Ash may have to battle Mickey again. Then Ash and co. wave goodbye, and they continue their journey towards Goldenrod City. Meanwhile, Team Rocket's balloon is stuck in a tree, and Jessie, James, and Meowth are tied up in their ropes. Wobbuffet remains on top of the tree branch. Jessie orders Wobbuffet to help them, and Wobbuffet's reply is "Wobbuffet!"
