#158 "A Goldenrod Opportunity"
Well, it's been a long time coming, but Ash and friends have finally reached their next major stop--Goldenrod City!
Goldenrod City is one huge city! As soon as the group enters the heart of the city, Misty's first observation is that the local malls all have huge discounts. Brock is, as usual, swooning over all the local girls. Ash is annoyed, telling the group they've gotta go. The group then come across a hamburger stand. Ash is delighted for a short moment, before reminding the group that they didn't come here to shop or meet girls or eat burgers. He came here to win a gym badge.
The group arrives at the Goldenrod Gym to find that it's
closed for the day. With this in mind, the group decide to return to their
earlier activities--shopping and meeting girls and eating burgers. Brock says
that he knows the perfect place to hang out--the Goldenrod Galleria. It's just a
few blocks away, but the group walk around for an hour and a half and still
can't find a way to get to it. Every street is just a dead end. Pikachu suddenly
starts running off, and, thinking he has an idea, the humans follow.
Pikachu (literally) runs into a Clefairy, and while Ash is
seeing if the poor Pokémon is hurt, its trainer--a girl with pink hair, white
clothes and shoes matching her hair color--runs up to the group, asking if
Pikachu's hurt. The Clefairy's trainer seems fond of Pikachu, and kisses it
better. Brock is, meanwhile, banging his head into a wall, hoping the trainer
will kiss him better too. Misty dragged him off by the ear, of course.
The trainer introduces herself as Whitney, and tells the
group she knows a way to the Goldenrod Galleria, and she'd be happy to take them
there. Brock is trying to invite Whitney on a date, but is disheartened to find
that Whitney has already walked--along with Ash and Misty--to a nearby
staircase.
Whitney says that the quickest way to go is underground, and
so they all go downstairs. Up another staircase they go, which supposedly is a
lesser-known way straight to the lobby. The group come to the top of the stairs,
only to find that they're further away from the Galleria than when they started.
They run back downstairs, and Whitney says she knows another way there. Well,
this time they end up at a Pokémon salon.
The group pretty much give up, and, realising they're hungry,
go up the stairs, back towards the hamburger stand they were at earlier. They
reach the top of the stairs to find the Goldenrod Galleria before their eyes.
Maybe Whitney only knows where she's going when she doesn't know where
she's going... Well, since they were at their original planned destination,
Whitney offers the group a tour of the Galleria.
Team Rocket is in a grocery store, eating the sample food
available. A rather large woman comes up behind them, asking them in an annoyed
tone if they're going to buy anything. Team Rocket recite a "free food
samples" version of their motto. The woman in unfazed, and tells them that
only one of the dishes available was a sampler--you have to pay for the others.
The problem? Team Rocket is a little short of money. They try to bargain with
the woman, but she says that they'll work until they pay for every crumb they
ate.
Team Rocket's "work" is to stand in humiliating
outfits and try and convince the store patrons to try the sample food. James
spots a Clefairy in the distance, and, quickly throwing off their humiliating
outfits, Team Rocket make a beeline for it.
Misty had been doing a little shopping, and Ash and Brock were carrying tons of boxes. Whitney says goodbye to the group, and goes to pick up Clefairy, only to find it's not there. Pikachu runs off again, so Ash hands all his boxes to Brock and runs off after it. Misty and Whitney follow, and Brock tries to follow, but has a little trouble under the hundreds of boxes.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket have followed the Clefairy outside
the store, and through the city. They finally catch up to it, and Jessie stuffs
it in a bag with an Ash-like victory pose. Whitney arrives on the scene, and
Team Rocket make a run for it. Ash, Misty, Whitney, and Pikachu run after them.
Brock is again having trouble running with all his boxes.
Team Rocket find the monorail station, and run inside. They
have no idea where it goes, but they don't really care, as long as they get away
from here. The station is practically empty. They ask the official-looking man
standing there when the next train runs, and he tells them it runs in a year
from next Tuesday. They've gotta build the trains before they can run the
trains. "The twerps" are catching up, but Meowth spots a handcar. Team
Rocket jump onto it, and quickly start pulling the lever. The car starts moving,
but it's very embarrassing when it's moving at a speed approximately equal to
that of Pikachu's walking speed. Pikachu warms up for a Thunderbolt, but Jessie,
not wanting to get shocked, quickly hands the Clefairy back. Of course, Meowth
swipes up Pikachu as soon as it turns its head. They start moving again, and
Whitney orders Clefairy to use a Metronome attack.
Clefairy moves its fingers...
Team Rocket moves the handcar...
Clefairy moves its fingers...
Team Rocket moves the handcar...
Clefairy moves its fingers...
Clefairy launches a Gust attack.
The gust manages to take Pikachu out of Meowth's hands, and
Ash catches it. Things couldn't get much worse for Team Rocket, and to prove the
point, Wobbuffet pops out. Why is it that whenever problems pop up, Wobbuffet
pops out? Pikachu uses a Thunder attack on Team Rocket, and it gives the handcar
a little "boost". They may be getting out of there more quickly, but
it's going to take quite a toll when the rail runs out!
"Wob-buffet."
Whitney says that Pikachu did a great job, and she'd love to battle him. Ash declines, saying that they've got a big match tomorrow. Brock adds that Ash is going for a Goldenrod City Gym Badge. Whitney says that they should have told her, because she could have opened the gym for them. Ash is confused, asking if she's the Gym's cleaning lady. Whitney says the Gym leader is her!
In the gym, Ash is about to face off with Whitney. The
bell sounds, and Whitney sends out Nidorina. Ash sends out Cyndaquil. Nidorina
uses a Poison Sting, but Cyndaquil successfully counters with a Flamethrower.
Nidorina begins a run-up for a Tackle attack, but Cyndaquil again uses
Flamethrower, cooking Nidorina on the spot. Whitney recalls Nidorina, and
replaces it with Clefairy. Clefairy uses Metronome, but only ends up embarrassing
itself when it turns out to be Splash. Cyndaquil launches Flamethrowers
everywhere, and Clefairy forfeits the round. Ash is pretty happy with himself,
thinking the match is really easy, but then Whitney sends out Miltank. Ash
consults his Pokédex, and it seems Miltank is a bit of a pushover.
Whitney commands Miltank to use a Rollout attack, and Miltank
does so. Cyndaquil tries desperately to counter with a Tackle, but Miltank keeps
on rolling until it knocks Cyndaquil out. Ash replaces Cyndaquil with Totodile,
and Miltank starts with another Rollout. Totodile tries to counter with a Water
Gun, but Miltank simply gains speed, also knocking Totodile out. Brock suggests
that since Totodile's Water Gun soaked Miltank, Ash might have a chance with
Pikachu. Ash agrees.
Ash asks Pikachu for a Thunderbolt, and Pikachu complies, but
it doesn't really help. Pikachu uses Agility, but Miltank hits it, and Pikachu
is thrown to the ground. After another hit from Miltank, Pikachu is finished.
Whitney has won!
Whitney recalls Miltank, and tells Ash that if he ever wants
a rematch, he should just let her know.
With this battle lost, Ash's only hope is a rematch. But can he outwit Whitney, or will Miltank yet again defeat Ash? To be continued...