Pokemon Episode Guide - Scootopolis Gym
Doctor Oak

Pokemon AG111: Sootopolis Gym, Ardan - Artist of Water Part 1

As we start, we see our heroes heading out on a boat towards Sootopolis City, Ash and Pikachu getting ready to fight for their final badge in its gym. As the group enter the alcoved city they're greeted by its beauty but are also greeted as they step off the boat by fireworks - in the day.

May and Max run off to find out where they're coming from, Brock chasing after them and Ash calling after the others, worried about delaying his Gym Battle.

They end up at an arena, a pool of water in the center with a man in a brown suit, the Mayor of the city, coming out onto the stage to greet the huge crowd. He introduces the Gym Leader, "The artist of water", Ardan. Seemingly under his control, jets of water encircle the stage around Ardan, followed by his pokemon jumping out onto small platforms. Huntail, Seadra, Azurill, Luvdisc, Goldeen, Wailmer and finally - Milotic. May watches on at the beautiful Milotic - knowing it would be brilliant for Contests.

The Pokemon use water gun to set of sprays of water above the stage and are soon joined by more pokemon - Corsola, Barboach, Chinchou from the pool and Wingull, Masquerain and Pellipper from the skies. With Bubble and Water Gun attacks they create a sparkling aura around the city, bubbles floating around the skies and a pillar of water around the stage. Ardan moves gracefully on the stage, accompanied by groups of Staryu and Tentacruel and climaxes in a huge rainbow over the city.

As the Mayor returns and Ardan takes a bow, they're interupted by Milotic's long, poetic cry - attention turned to the sky they see a large hot-air balloon - Team Rocket. They float down to talk with Ardan, who asks if they are artists too, causing Team Rocket to give us a recital of their motto. Ash and friends run down to the stage and draws the attention of Ardan - who is informed by the "twerps" that Team Rocket are looking to steal the Pokemon. Ardan suddenly becomes more worried.

Meowth presses a button that launches a rocket from the bottom of the balloon, which busts into a large net, trapping the Pokemon in the water and shocking them with electricity. Ardan, however, is under no worry. Huntail uses Mirror Coat, Barboach uses Mud Sport and Tentacruel finishes the attack against them with another Mirror Coat. Milotic is called to finish it, with an Iron Tail attack on the net - the Pokemon are instantly cut free. Finally, to get rid of Team Rocket Milotic blasts a whirlpool attack at them, sending them Blasting Off again.

The crowd cheers and celebrates, but Ash is more interested in battling Milotic after seeing it in action. Ardan greets them and thanks them for their help and Ash introduces himself and tells Ardan the reason he's here. Ardan then takes them off onto his private boat to take them to his Gym.

On the boat, Ardan discusses with May about his Milotic and how he used to be a Pokemon Co-ordinator, just like May. He tells May about the Grand Festival she can take part in once she obtains her final ribbon and explains that he once won the Grand Festival himself after obtaining all 5 necessary Ribbons. He explains that he became a Gym Leader of Water Pokemon because he loves both their elegance and the danger that comes with them. The weakness to electric types sparks the adrenaline in him - remembering that the contests he enjoyed the most were the ones he was in constant threat of losing.

Max becomes worried if Ash can beat such a tough opponent, but both Ash and Pikachu are adamant that they'll be able to take him down.

The boat docks outside a huge mansion and Ardan's Butler, Sebastian leads them through the mansion to the arena Ardan uses for gym battles. The Arena is a huge pool of water and the rules are declared - shocking Ash to their unusualness, something Ardan came up with because of his love of constant danger. The Battle is a 5 vs 5 set-up but with a twist. Ash must select two Pokemon for a double battle and when either the gym leader or the challenger has two Pokemon unable to battle the first round is over. The second round is normal 1-1 battles; the challenger can switch out Pokemon at any time.

May, Max and Brock are worried with the set-up, adding just another layer of difficulty to the match. Ardan starts off the battle with a Sealeo and Seaking - Ash leading with Pikachu and Snorunt. Pikachu starts with a Thunderbolt attack but Seaking uses its Horn Drill attack to act as a lightning rod and protects Sealeo from the attack then re-directs the attack back at Snorunt. Snorunt is hurt, but not out. Brock, May and Max begin to realise just how hard this battle is going to be.

Ash has Pikachu launch a Thunder attack but Seaking simply attracts and deflects the attack again. Seeing that Snorunt is in danger, Pikachu jumps forward and takes the attack to protect Snorunt. It pushes them both back on the small float Snorunt was standing on though and tires Pikachu quickly. Now Sealeo launches its first attack, a Blizzard, it doesn't affect Snorunt, however who simply launches his own Blizzard - creating a huge block of ice mid-air that seperates the two opposing teams of Pokemon as it lands into the water. Ardan's Pokemon launch beam attacks to break it down and Ash takes the chance to sent Pikachu and Snorunt running across the broken up ice blocks. Pikachu prepares an Iron Tail attack and Snorunt launches into a Take-down. Ardan is not afraid though. A Hyper and Aurora Beam stop both attacks, Pikachu dodging the Aurora Beam from Sealeo but Snorunt being unable to avoid the Hyper Beam from Seaking is sent rocketting into the roof by the blast. Ardan points out Ash's mistakes and Ash is left to contemplate his next move.

We leave him to do that by cutting to another scene - with another Ardan? No, it's James doing a terrifyingly good impression of Ardan, both in looks and action.

Meanwhile Ash has sent out Corphish to take on Ardan. A bubble beam atttack missing as Sealeo and Seaking head under water. Sealeo launches an Aurora Beam attack that launches Pikachu off its float whilst Seaking jumps up from behind Corphish attempting to use a Horn Attack. It fails as Corphish grabs hold of the horn with one of its pincers. Ardan reverses it, however, with a Horn Drill that flings Corphish around, around and away! Pikachu is instructed to launch an Iron Attack against the vulnerable Seaking after the attack and manages to land the attack just before Sealeo can land its Aurora Beam - which misses and strikes a block of ice and kicks up a huge cloud of steam. The cloud clears to reveal Seaking, knocked out - but no Pikachu. Ash calls for his Pokemon, but they're nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, out of the water bursts the figure of Corphish and Pikachu on its back, storming through the pool to a big musical accompanyment. Sealeo strikes with an Ice ball attack that Corphish breaks with a single pincer. Sealeo, however, strikes with another Ice-ball, which is bigger and needs Corphish to strike it away with both pincers. Brock shouts out to Ash, warning him that Ice Ball keeps getting bigger and stronger. Sealeo proves the point with another one, which Pikachu jumps up and breaks with an Iron Tail. The next Ice Ball, however, ruins Ash's growing confidence and throws Corphish and Pikachu out of the water.

It prepares for another huge Ice Ball and sends it hurtling towards the dazed Corphish and Pikachu. Ash quickly calls for Pikachu to Thunder it and the Pokemon leaps forward and shocks the huge ball with all its force. The Ice Ball stands firm though until Ash demands more from Pikachu. The yellow rat thunders out all of its electrical power in a huge surge and shatters the Ice. The resulting hail distracts Sealeo and gives Corphish the chance to leap forward and land a Crab-hammer attack. The Attack knocks Sealeo out of the arena and secures the first round for Ash.

Ardan congratulates him and the two switch sides as the battlefield changes to a grassy arena with rocky pillars and an uneven pool of water sitting throughout the middle. Ash sends out Grovyle to take on this challenge and Ardan goes with Luvdisc. Grovyle attacks with a Bullet Seed attack that Luvdisc avoids and launches a Water Pulse attack.

Grovyle dodges the attack by bouncing off the furniture of the arena and leaps into the air, spinning itself around quickly in a leaf-blade attack. Luvdisc however simply dodges it and launches a Sweet-kiss attack. Grovyle is left confused as the episode draws to a close and Ash is left with a tougher challenge than he originally thought he was in for.