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series=Advanced Generation series |
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'''Battling the Enemy Within!''' (Japanese: '''バトルピラミッド!VSレジロック!!''' ''Battle Pyramid! VS Regirock!!'') is the 178th episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 452nd episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It first aired in Japan on May 25, 2006 and in the United States on December 6, 2006.
'''Battling the Enemy Within!''' (Japanese: '''バトルピラミッド!VSレジロック!!''' ''Battle Pyramid! VS Regirock!!'') is the 178th episode of the {{series|Advanced Generation}}, and the 452nd episode of the [[Pokémon anime]]. It first aired in Japan on May 25, 2006 and in the United States on December 6, 2006.


<!-- Short summary goes here. -->
{{spoilers}}
{{spoilers}}
==Synopsis==
 
==Blurb==
<!--http://www.pokemon.com/us/tv-episodes/season-9/episode-33-09_33-battling-the-enemy-within/-->
<i>Ash is really excited to get to the Battle Pyramid, but he falls down a hole into a strange ruin. When Team Rocket goes to check it out, they end up falling in as well. As Ash and his friends explore, they set off a trap! They're saved by a man and his Regirock—the man's name is Brandon, and he tells Ash off for messing with the ruins. The ruins, he explains, are where the King of Pokelantis sealed a Ho-Oh. But instead of being careful, Ash gets excited and runs off in search of Ho-Oh. He finds something much more sinister when he awakens the spirit of the King, who possesses him and demands everyone's Pokémon as part of plan to rule the world!
 
Brandon challenges Ash, Pyramid King to evil King, at the Battle Pyramid. Only one Pokémon is allowed, and the King gets Brandon's Pokémon if he wins. The King takes advantage of Ash's battling knowledge, but Brandon's Regirock is no pushover. But the King has one more trick—he has no scruples! He has Sceptile collapse the ceiling on Regirock. Brandon calls it cowardly, and that snaps Ash back for a minute. Regirock comes back out, but the King has Sceptile hide behind the referee so Brandon won't attack.
 
Regirock uses Lock On to make sure its Hyper Beam hits, knocking Sceptile out. Then the King demands that Pikachu battle even though he's lost. Ash's friends call for him to return, and Ash regains control long enough to tell Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on him, expelling the King's spirit. This lets Brandon trap the King back in the stone sphere. Everyone's relieved, but Brandon reminds Ash that his foolish overconfidence led to this disaster—and now he'll have to wait for an official battle.</i>
 
==Plot==
{{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} finally see the {{DL|Battle Frontier (Generation III)|Battle Pyramid}}, and Ash is confident that he will win. However, they fall into a hole and plummet into an ancient ruin whose walls are covered in ancient hieroglyphs and pictures of people and Pokémon. [[Max]] spots a light source ahead, and Ash heads for it. Meanwhile, {{TRT}} finds the pit Ash and the others fell through. The ground is unstable, and Team Rocket widens the pit, falling in as well.  
{{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} finally see the {{DL|Battle Frontier (Generation III)|Battle Pyramid}}, and Ash is confident that he will win. However, they fall into a hole and plummet into an ancient ruin whose walls are covered in ancient hieroglyphs and pictures of people and Pokémon. [[Max]] spots a light source ahead, and Ash heads for it. Meanwhile, {{TRT}} finds the pit Ash and the others fell through. The ground is unstable, and Team Rocket widens the pit, falling in as well.  


Ash finds a {{p|Pikachu}} statue and grabs it, even though Max tries to convince him not to, causing the pillar it was resting on the rise and the statue's eyes to glow blue. A nearby wall with an identical depiction of a Pikachu flashes its eyes as well and begins to rise. A giant, spherical boulder begins to pursue the group. They run into an explorer who calls them foolish kids. He summons a {{DL|Brandon's Regis|Regirock}} to destroy the boulder with {{m|Focus Punch}}.
Ash finds a {{p|Pikachu}} statue and grabs it, even though Max tries to convince him not to, causing the pillar it was resting on the rise and the statue's eyes to glow blue. A nearby wall with an identical depiction of a Pikachu flashes its eyes as well and begins to rise. A giant, spherical boulder begins to pursue the group. They run into an explorer who calls them foolish kids. He summons a {{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock}} to destroy the boulder with {{m|Focus Punch}}.
Ash then says, "Gee thanks, mister! You saved our lives!" The explorer responds with a "Noooo!". The man then identifies himself as {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}. Brandon talks about the ruins, called [[Pokélantis]], an ancient kingdom whose king tried to control {{p|Ho-Oh}} as part of his plan to rule the world. Ho-Oh destroyed the entire kingdom for the King's wicked attempt. Team Rocket overhears and misinterprets that Ho-Oh is in the ruins, so they set off to find it.
Ash then says, "Gee thanks, mister! You saved our lives!" The explorer responds with a "Noooo!". The man then identifies himself as {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}. Brandon talks about the ruins, called [[Pokélantis]], an ancient kingdom whose king tried to control {{p|Ho-Oh}} as part of his plan to rule the world. Ho-Oh destroyed the entire kingdom for the King's wicked attempt. Team Rocket overhears and misinterprets that Ho-Oh is in the ruins, so they set off to find it.


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Back in the King's chamber, Ash commands everyone else to give him their Pokémon. The dark energy around him reaches out and grabs May's Poké Balls, but she and Max take them back. Ash declares himself to be the [[King of Pokélantis]], and Brandon reveals that Ash is being possessed by the King's spirit. Brandon confronts the King, mentioning his failure to imprison Ho-Oh, and challenges him to a battle. Brandon announces that he is the king of the Battle Pyramid, and if the King wins, he can have all of Brandon's Pokémon. The King accepts.
Back in the King's chamber, Ash commands everyone else to give him their Pokémon. The dark energy around him reaches out and grabs May's Poké Balls, but she and Max take them back. Ash declares himself to be the [[King of Pokélantis]], and Brandon reveals that Ash is being possessed by the King's spirit. Brandon confronts the King, mentioning his failure to imprison Ho-Oh, and challenges him to a battle. Brandon announces that he is the king of the Battle Pyramid, and if the King wins, he can have all of Brandon's Pokémon. The King accepts.


Team Rocket hear a roar at the mouth of a tunnel and run down it, thinking it is Ho-Oh. Instead, a furious {{p|Salamence}} greets them with {{m|Flamethrower}}, sending them running. Meanwhile, Brandon takes the King and the others to the pyramid, where [[Scott]] is waiting. The King pushes Scott aside as he walks into the Battle Pyramid, declaring that no one stands in his way. Inside, Scott finds out that Ash is possessed by the King's spirit. Afterward, he reveals that Brandon explores ruins as well as being a Frontier Brain.
Team Rocket hear a roar at the mouth of a tunnel and run down it, thinking it is Ho-Oh. Instead, a furious {{p|Salamence}} greets them with {{m|Flamethrower}}, sending them running. Meanwhile, Brandon takes the King and the others to the pyramid, where [[Scott]] is waiting. The King pushes Scott aside as he walks into the Battle Pyramid, declaring that no one stands in his way. Inside, Scott finds out that Ash is possessed by the King's spirit. Afterwards, he reveals that Brandon explores ruins as well as being a Frontier Brain.


The battle is set for a one-on-one match. Brandon sends out Regirock. Ash wakes up inside another dimension but can see through the King's eyes. Noticing the battle, Ash summons {{AP|Sceptile}}, which the King replicates in reality. Ash orders Sceptile to use {{m|Leaf Blade}}, which the King replicates. Regirock uses {{m|Iron Defense}} to nullify the attack. The King then orders {{m|Bullet Seed}}, but Iron Defense also nullifies it. Witha  snide grin, the King orders Sceptile to fire Bullet Seed at the ceiling. Sceptile is hesitant at first, but obeys. The attack causes rubble to crash on top of and bury Regirock. The group notes that Ash would never attack in that manner. Brandon calls the King a coward for his tactic, but Ash hears the insult from within the King. Ash temporarily breaks the spell, denies that he is a coward, but soon loses control to the King.
The battle is set for a one-on-one match. Brandon sends out Regirock. Ash wakes up inside another dimension but can see through the King's eyes. Noticing the battle, Ash summons {{AP|Sceptile}}, which the King replicates in reality. Ash orders Sceptile to use {{m|Leaf Blade}}, which the King replicates. Regirock uses {{m|Iron Defense}} to nullify the attack. The King then orders {{m|Bullet Seed}}, but Iron Defense also nullifies it. With a snide grin, the King orders Sceptile to fire Bullet Seed at the ceiling. Sceptile is hesitant at first, but obeys. The attack causes rubble to crash on top of and bury Regirock. The group notes that Ash would never attack in that manner. Brandon calls the King a coward for his tactic, but Ash hears the insult from within the King. Ash temporarily breaks the spell, denies that he is a coward, but soon loses control to the King.


Max thinks Regirock is down and out, but the Rock Peak Pokémon breaks out of its tomb and immediately uses {{m|Hyper Beam}}. In an astonishing move, the King orders Sceptile to use the referee as cover. Sceptile initially hesitates, not used to Ash using such dirty tricks, but the King tells him to obey and Sceptile leaps behind the frightened referee, [[Samuel]]. Brandon cancels the attack. The King uses Sceptile’s Leaf Blade on Regirock’s leg, causing it to kneel down. Regirock uses {{m|Lock-On}}, targeting Sceptile. The King orders another Leaf Blade on the other leg, rendering Regirock immobile. Regirock uses Hyper Beam again. Sceptile's attempt to dodge fails as Lock-On ensures that the attack hits. Hyper Beam comes around and Sceptile is blasted to the ground and faints. The King refuses to admit defeat and orders Pikachu to battle. May, Brock, and Max defend Pikachu and try to break through to Ash. The King appears resistant and orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but it refuses. Brandon reminds Ash that they’re his good friends, and Ash gets {{AP|Pikachu}} to use {{m|Thunderbolt}} on him. The attack frees Ash from captivity and purges the King from his body. Brandon uses a counter of the spell to banish the King's spirit back to the orb. Ash returns to normal, to his friends' relief. Brandon admits to Scott that Ash's friends freed him from the spell.
Max thinks Regirock is down and out, but the Rock Peak Pokémon breaks out of its tomb and immediately uses {{m|Hyper Beam}}. In an astonishing move, the King orders Sceptile to use the referee as cover. Sceptile initially hesitates, not used to Ash using such dirty tricks. The King tells him to obey, so Sceptile leaps behind the frightened referee, [[Samuel]], forcing Brandon to cancel the attack. The King uses Sceptile’s Leaf Blade on Regirock’s leg, causing it to kneel down. Regirock uses {{m|Lock-On}}, targeting Sceptile. The King orders another Leaf Blade on the other leg, rendering Regirock immobile. Regirock uses Hyper Beam again. Sceptile’s attempt to dodge fails as Lock-On ensures that the attack hits. Hyper Beam comes around and Sceptile is blasted to the ground and faints. The King refuses to admit defeat and orders Pikachu to battle. May, Brock, and Max defend Pikachu and try to break through to Ash. The King appears resistant and orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but it refuses. Brandon reminds Ash that they’re his good friends, and Ash gets {{AP|Pikachu}} to use {{m|Thunderbolt}} on him. The attack frees Ash from captivity and purges the King from his body. Brandon uses a counter of the spell to banish the King's spirit back to the orb. Ash returns to normal, much to his friends' relief. Brandon admits to Scott that Ash's friends freed him from the spell.


Meanwhile, Team Rocket are still in the ruins. They find a hidden room between two sliding walls that houses a mere {{p|Hoothoot}}. Jessie throws a rock, angering Hoothoot and prompting it to attack Team Rocket's bottoms as they flee. They unknowingly activate a spring tile that sends them flying out of the ruins.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket are still in the ruins. They find a hidden room between two sliding walls that houses a mere {{p|Hoothoot}}. Jessie throws a rock, angering Hoothoot and prompting it to attack Team Rocket's bottoms as they flee. They unknowingly activate a spring tile that sends them flying out of the ruins.


As the sun sets, Brandon tells Ash that his own carelessness and arrogance attracted the King and rendered him vulnerable. Ash admits that he may be a foolish kid at times, but he still wants the chance to battle Brandon fair and square. Unfortunately, Brandon declines the challenge as he has some more ruins to visit but he tells Ash he will get in touch when the time is right. He advises Ash to train hard in the meantime. Brandon and Samuel enter the Battle Pyramid, and Scott advises the group to stand back. The Pyramid's corners slide outward and dust begins to be kicked up. The massive structure lifts into the sky on rotors that keep it aloft, allowing Brandon to move to the his next ruins site. May notices a golden bird in the sky, and the whole group witnesses the real Ho-Oh flying in the distance. Ash remember how he saw it [[EP001|when he first started out]] on his journey. He uses this to inspire himself to train for the rematch. But for now, the [[Grand Festival]] is on the horizon, and May cannot wait to put herself to the ultimate test.
As the sun sets, Brandon tells Ash that his own carelessness and arrogance attracted the King and rendered him vulnerable. Ash admits that he may be a foolish kid at times, but he still wants the chance to battle Brandon fair and square. Unfortunately, Brandon declines the challenge as he has some more ruins to visit, but he tells Ash he will get in touch when the time is right. He advises Ash to train hard in the meantime. Brandon and Samuel enter the Battle Pyramid, and Scott advises the group to stand back. The Pyramid's corners slide outward and dust begins to be kicked up. The massive structure lifts into the sky on rotors that keep it aloft, allowing Brandon to move to the his next ruins site. May notices a golden bird in the sky, and the whole group witnesses the real Ho-Oh flying in the distance. Ash remember how he saw it [[EP001|when he first started out]] on his journey. He uses this to inspire himself to train for the official battle. But for now, the [[Grand Festival]] is on the horizon, and May cannot wait to put herself to the ultimate test.


==Major events==
==Major events==
* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} meet [[Pyramid King Brandon]], the seventh and final [[Frontier Brain]].
* {{Ash}} and {{ashfr}} meet [[Pyramid King Brandon]], the seventh and final [[Frontier Brain]].
* Ash is possessed by the evil spirit of the [[King of Pokélantis|King of the Pokélantis Empire]], which comes from the stone sphere sealed in the Ancient Ruins, and Brandon agrees to {{pkmn|battle}} the King in order to save Ash.
* Ash is possessed by the evil spirit of the [[King of Pokélantis|King of the Pokélantis Empire]], which comes from the stone sphere sealed in the Ancient Ruins, and Brandon agrees to {{pkmn|battle}} the King in order to save Ash.
* [[Ash's Sceptile]] fights {{DL|Brandon's Regis|Regirock|Brandon's Regirock}} in an unofficial battle and loses.
* [[Ash's Sceptile]] fights {{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock|Brandon's Regirock}} in an unofficial battle and loses.
* Brandon promises Ash an official battle, however it will not be for some time as he has business elsewhere.
* Brandon promises Ash an official battle, however it will not be for some time as he has business elsewhere.
* Ash sees {{an|Ho-Oh}} for the third time.  
* Ash sees {{an|Ho-Oh}} for the third time.  
** On a related note, {{an|May}}, [[Max]], {{an|Brock}} and [[Scott]] see Ho-Oh for the first time.
** On a related note, {{an|May}}, [[Max]], {{an|Brock}}, and [[Scott]] see Ho-Oh for the first time.
{{animeevents}}
{{animeevents}}


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====Pokémon debuts====
====Pokémon debuts====
=====TV episode debuts=====
=====TV episode debuts=====
* {{p|Regirock}} ([[Brandon's Regis#Regirock|Brandon's]])
* {{p|Regirock}} ({{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock|Brandon's}})


==Characters==
==Characters==
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* {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}
* {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}}
* [[Scott]]
* [[Scott]]
* [[King of Pokélantis]]  
* [[King of Pokélantis]] (flashback/spirit form)
* [[Samuel]]
* [[Samuel]]


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* {{p|Mime Jr.}} ({{OP|James|Mime Jr.}})
* {{p|Mime Jr.}} ({{OP|James|Mime Jr.}})
* {{p|Sceptile}} ({{OP|Ash|Sceptile}})
* {{p|Sceptile}} ({{OP|Ash|Sceptile}})
* {{p|Regirock}} ({{DL|Brandon's Regis|Regirock|Brandon's}})
* {{p|Ho-Oh}} ({{an|Ho-Oh|anime}})
* {{p|Ho-Oh}} ([[Ho-Oh (anime)|anime]])
* {{p|Regirock}} ({{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock|Brandon's}})
* {{p|Pidgey}}  
* {{p|Pidgey}}  
* {{p|Hoothoot}}
* {{p|Hoothoot}}
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==Trivia==
==Trivia==
[[File:Ancient Ruins door.png|thumb|right|The recurring sealed door]]
[[File:Ancient Ruins door.png|thumb|300px|The recurring sealed door]]
* [[Pokémon Symphonic Medley]] is used as background music.
* ''[[Pokémon Symphonic Medley]]'' is used as background music.
* An arrangement of {{rt|27|Kanto}}'s music can be heard at the end of the episode.
* The "giant boulder rolling down a narrow corridor" scene from the movie ''{{wp|Raiders of the Lost Ark}}'' is reenacted twice in this episode, with Pikachu and Smoochum statues in place of the fertility idol.
* The {{game|Red and Blue|s}} opening theme is used as background music for the next episode preview.
* The "giant boulder rolling down a narrow corridor" scene from the first Indiana Jones movie, ''{{wp|Raiders of the Lost Ark}}'', is reenacted twice in this episode, with Pikachu and Smoochum statues in place of the fertility idol.
** A similar scene would occur in ''[[BW064|Explorers of the Hero's Ruin!]]''.
** A similar scene would occur in ''[[BW064|Explorers of the Hero's Ruin!]]''.
* The ongoing Japanese pun in this episode was to have Pokémon appear to Team Rocket that have similar names to ''{{tt|Houou|Ho-Oh}}''. These Pokémon included ''{{tt|Poppo|Pidgey}}'', ''{{tt|Hoho|Hoothoot}}'', and ''{{tt|Bohmander|Salamence}}''. This joke could not be translated into the dubs since most of these Pokémon have names that sound nothing like Ho-Oh's name in each language.
* The ongoing Japanese pun in this episode was to have Pokémon appear to Team Rocket that have similar names to ''{{tt|Houou|Ho-Oh}}''. These Pokémon included ''{{tt|Poppo|Pidgey}}'', ''{{tt|Hoho|Hoothoot}}'', and ''{{tt|Bohmander|Salamence}}''. This joke could not be translated into the dubs since most of these Pokémon have names that sound nothing like Ho-Oh's name in each language.
* One of the doors in the ruins appears similar to the wall where the four treasures were placed in ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''.
* One of the doors in the ruins appears similar to the wall where the four treasures were placed in ''[[AG002|A Ruin with a View]]''.
* This is the first time that Ash and Pikachu are not alone when they see Ho-Oh.
* This is the first time that Ash and Pikachu are not alone when they see Ho-Oh.
* An arrangement of {{rt|27|Kanto}}'s music can be heard at the end of the episode.
* The {{game|Red and Blue|s}} opening theme is used as background music for the next episode preview.
* {{an|May}} narrates the preview for the [[AG179|next episode]].
* {{an|May}} narrates the preview for the [[AG179|next episode]].
* This is the first time Ash is possessed by an evil entity.


===Errors===
===Dub edits===
===Dub edits===


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|da={{tt|Besat af en Ond Ånd!|Possessed by an Evil Spirit!}}
|da={{tt|Besat af en Ond Ånd!|Possessed by an Evil Spirit!}}
|de={{tt|Der Feind in mir!|The enemy within me!}}
|de={{tt|Der Feind in mir!|The enemy within me!}}
|fi={{tt|Vastustaja nousee sisältä|The enemy rises from within}}
|fr_eu={{tt|L'ennemi intérieur|The inner enemy}}
|fr_eu={{tt|L'ennemi intérieur|The inner enemy}}
|it={{tt|Il leggendario Ho-Oh|The legendary Ho-Oh}}
|it={{tt|Il leggendario Ho-Oh|The legendary Ho-Oh}}
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}}
}}
{{-}}
{{-}}
{{EpicodePrevNext|
{{EpicodePrevNext|
prevcode=AG177 |
prevcode=AG177 |
prevtitle=Grating Spaces! |
prevtitle=Grating Spaces! |
nextcode=AG179 |
nextcode=AG179 |
nexttitle=Slaking Kong |
nexttitle=Slaking Kong! |
series=Advanced Generation series |
series=Advanced Generation series |
colorscheme=Emerald }}
colorscheme=Emerald}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
{{Project Anime notice}}
[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|178]]
[[Category:Advanced Generation series episodes|178]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Shōji Yonemura|452]]
[[Category:Episodes written by Shōji Yonemura|452]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Masaru Koyama|452]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded and directed by Masaru Koyama|452]]
[[Category:Episodes storyboarded by Masaru Koyama|452]]
[[Category:Episodes directed by Masaru Koyama|452]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Toshihito Hirooka|452]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Toshihito Hirooka|452]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Hiromi Funatsu|452]]
[[Category:Episodes animated by Hiromi Funatsu|452]]
[[Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors|452]]
[[Category:Episodes by multiple animation directors|452]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a legendary Pokémon appears|452]]
[[Category:Episodes in which a legendary Pokémon appears|452]]
[[Category:Episodes focusing on Ash|452]]


[[de:Der Feind in mir (Episode)]]
[[de:Der Feind in mir (Episode)]]
[[ja:AG編第177話]]
[[fr:AG178]]
[[ja:AG編第178話]]
[[pl:AG178]]
[[pl:AG178]]

Revision as of 12:02, 15 September 2015

AG177 : Grating Spaces!
Advanced Generation series
AG179 : Slaking Kong!
Battling the Enemy Within!
AG178.png
AG178   EP452
バトルピラミッド!VSレジロック!!
Battle Pyramid! VS Regirock!!
First broadcast
Japan May 25, 2006
United States December 6, 2006
English themes
Opening Battle Frontier
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening スパート!
Ending 私、負けない! ~ハルカのテーマ~
Credits
Animation Team Iguchi
Screenplay 米村正二 Shōji Yonemura
Storyboard 小山賢 Masaru Koyama
Assistant director 小山賢 Masaru Koyama
Animation directors 広岡歳仁 Toshihito Hirooka
船津弘美 Hiromi Funatsu
No additional credits are available at this time.
  • Screenshots on Filb.de
  • Early reports originally listed 大山和弘 Kazuhiro Ōyama as the director and storyboarder.

Battling the Enemy Within! (Japanese: バトルピラミッド!VSレジロック!! Battle Pyramid! VS Regirock!!) is the 178th episode of the Advanced Generation series, and the 452nd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on May 25, 2006 and in the United States on December 6, 2006.

201
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
201

Blurb

Ash is really excited to get to the Battle Pyramid, but he falls down a hole into a strange ruin. When Team Rocket goes to check it out, they end up falling in as well. As Ash and his friends explore, they set off a trap! They're saved by a man and his Regirock—the man's name is Brandon, and he tells Ash off for messing with the ruins. The ruins, he explains, are where the King of Pokelantis sealed a Ho-Oh. But instead of being careful, Ash gets excited and runs off in search of Ho-Oh. He finds something much more sinister when he awakens the spirit of the King, who possesses him and demands everyone's Pokémon as part of plan to rule the world!

Brandon challenges Ash, Pyramid King to evil King, at the Battle Pyramid. Only one Pokémon is allowed, and the King gets Brandon's Pokémon if he wins. The King takes advantage of Ash's battling knowledge, but Brandon's Regirock is no pushover. But the King has one more trick—he has no scruples! He has Sceptile collapse the ceiling on Regirock. Brandon calls it cowardly, and that snaps Ash back for a minute. Regirock comes back out, but the King has Sceptile hide behind the referee so Brandon won't attack.

Regirock uses Lock On to make sure its Hyper Beam hits, knocking Sceptile out. Then the King demands that Pikachu battle even though he's lost. Ash's friends call for him to return, and Ash regains control long enough to tell Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on him, expelling the King's spirit. This lets Brandon trap the King back in the stone sphere. Everyone's relieved, but Brandon reminds Ash that his foolish overconfidence led to this disaster—and now he'll have to wait for an official battle.

Plot

Ash and his friends finally see the Battle Pyramid, and Ash is confident that he will win. However, they fall into a hole and plummet into an ancient ruin whose walls are covered in ancient hieroglyphs and pictures of people and Pokémon. Max spots a light source ahead, and Ash heads for it. Meanwhile, Team Rocket finds the pit Ash and the others fell through. The ground is unstable, and Team Rocket widens the pit, falling in as well.

Ash finds a Pikachu statue and grabs it, even though Max tries to convince him not to, causing the pillar it was resting on the rise and the statue's eyes to glow blue. A nearby wall with an identical depiction of a Pikachu flashes its eyes as well and begins to rise. A giant, spherical boulder begins to pursue the group. They run into an explorer who calls them foolish kids. He summons a Regirock to destroy the boulder with Focus Punch. Ash then says, "Gee thanks, mister! You saved our lives!" The explorer responds with a "Noooo!". The man then identifies himself as Brandon. Brandon talks about the ruins, called Pokélantis, an ancient kingdom whose king tried to control Ho-Oh as part of his plan to rule the world. Ho-Oh destroyed the entire kingdom for the King's wicked attempt. Team Rocket overhears and misinterprets that Ho-Oh is in the ruins, so they set off to find it.

Ash is excited that he might run into Ho-Oh, but Brandon doesn't want them to follow. Ash reveals that he won six Battle Frontier Symbols and runs off. Brandon and the others pursue Ash. Meanwhile, Team Rocket find a Smoochum statue and set off a boulder trap similar to the one Ash set off.

Ash runs into the door leading into the King’s chamber, which quickly opens, letting him inside, and shuts immediately thereafter. May and Max push against the door, but it does not budge. Brandon tries to find the mechanism that opens the King's chamber. Inside the King’s chamber, all of the torches light automatically as Ash stands up. He finds the King's throne under an enormous monument of the King himself and a stone orb shaped like a Poké Ball resting on the seat. Thinking Ho-Oh is inside, he grabs the orb and holds it above his head, commanding it to emerge. Brandon gets the door open and they get inside. Brandon tries to get Ash to set the orb down, but the mysterious object suddenly activates. The orb levitates in the air as a dark voice chants a spell, enveloping Ash in dark energy. He falls to his knees, still surrounded by a blue and black aura. The others stare in shock as Ash gets back on his feet and laughs with a deep, sinister voice.

Team Rocket encounter a door, and Meowth volunteers to look through the keyhole, where he sees a bird's silhouette. Thinking they have found Ho-Oh, Team Rocket open the large doors, only to be chased away by an angry Pidgey pecking at their bottoms.

Back in the King's chamber, Ash commands everyone else to give him their Pokémon. The dark energy around him reaches out and grabs May's Poké Balls, but she and Max take them back. Ash declares himself to be the King of Pokélantis, and Brandon reveals that Ash is being possessed by the King's spirit. Brandon confronts the King, mentioning his failure to imprison Ho-Oh, and challenges him to a battle. Brandon announces that he is the king of the Battle Pyramid, and if the King wins, he can have all of Brandon's Pokémon. The King accepts.

Team Rocket hear a roar at the mouth of a tunnel and run down it, thinking it is Ho-Oh. Instead, a furious Salamence greets them with Flamethrower, sending them running. Meanwhile, Brandon takes the King and the others to the pyramid, where Scott is waiting. The King pushes Scott aside as he walks into the Battle Pyramid, declaring that no one stands in his way. Inside, Scott finds out that Ash is possessed by the King's spirit. Afterwards, he reveals that Brandon explores ruins as well as being a Frontier Brain.

The battle is set for a one-on-one match. Brandon sends out Regirock. Ash wakes up inside another dimension but can see through the King's eyes. Noticing the battle, Ash summons Sceptile, which the King replicates in reality. Ash orders Sceptile to use Leaf Blade, which the King replicates. Regirock uses Iron Defense to nullify the attack. The King then orders Bullet Seed, but Iron Defense also nullifies it. With a snide grin, the King orders Sceptile to fire Bullet Seed at the ceiling. Sceptile is hesitant at first, but obeys. The attack causes rubble to crash on top of and bury Regirock. The group notes that Ash would never attack in that manner. Brandon calls the King a coward for his tactic, but Ash hears the insult from within the King. Ash temporarily breaks the spell, denies that he is a coward, but soon loses control to the King.

Max thinks Regirock is down and out, but the Rock Peak Pokémon breaks out of its tomb and immediately uses Hyper Beam. In an astonishing move, the King orders Sceptile to use the referee as cover. Sceptile initially hesitates, not used to Ash using such dirty tricks. The King tells him to obey, so Sceptile leaps behind the frightened referee, Samuel, forcing Brandon to cancel the attack. The King uses Sceptile’s Leaf Blade on Regirock’s leg, causing it to kneel down. Regirock uses Lock-On, targeting Sceptile. The King orders another Leaf Blade on the other leg, rendering Regirock immobile. Regirock uses Hyper Beam again. Sceptile’s attempt to dodge fails as Lock-On ensures that the attack hits. Hyper Beam comes around and Sceptile is blasted to the ground and faints. The King refuses to admit defeat and orders Pikachu to battle. May, Brock, and Max defend Pikachu and try to break through to Ash. The King appears resistant and orders Pikachu to use Thunderbolt, but it refuses. Brandon reminds Ash that they’re his good friends, and Ash gets Pikachu to use Thunderbolt on him. The attack frees Ash from captivity and purges the King from his body. Brandon uses a counter of the spell to banish the King's spirit back to the orb. Ash returns to normal, much to his friends' relief. Brandon admits to Scott that Ash's friends freed him from the spell.

Meanwhile, Team Rocket are still in the ruins. They find a hidden room between two sliding walls that houses a mere Hoothoot. Jessie throws a rock, angering Hoothoot and prompting it to attack Team Rocket's bottoms as they flee. They unknowingly activate a spring tile that sends them flying out of the ruins.

As the sun sets, Brandon tells Ash that his own carelessness and arrogance attracted the King and rendered him vulnerable. Ash admits that he may be a foolish kid at times, but he still wants the chance to battle Brandon fair and square. Unfortunately, Brandon declines the challenge as he has some more ruins to visit, but he tells Ash he will get in touch when the time is right. He advises Ash to train hard in the meantime. Brandon and Samuel enter the Battle Pyramid, and Scott advises the group to stand back. The Pyramid's corners slide outward and dust begins to be kicked up. The massive structure lifts into the sky on rotors that keep it aloft, allowing Brandon to move to the his next ruins site. May notices a golden bird in the sky, and the whole group witnesses the real Ho-Oh flying in the distance. Ash remember how he saw it when he first started out on his journey. He uses this to inspire himself to train for the official battle. But for now, the Grand Festival is on the horizon, and May cannot wait to put herself to the ultimate test.

Major events

For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Humans

Pokémon debuts

TV episode debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

The recurring sealed door
  • Pokémon Symphonic Medley is used as background music.
  • The "giant boulder rolling down a narrow corridor" scene from the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark is reenacted twice in this episode, with Pikachu and Smoochum statues in place of the fertility idol.
  • The ongoing Japanese pun in this episode was to have Pokémon appear to Team Rocket that have similar names to Houou. These Pokémon included Poppo, Hoho, and Bohmander. This joke could not be translated into the dubs since most of these Pokémon have names that sound nothing like Ho-Oh's name in each language.
  • One of the doors in the ruins appears similar to the wall where the four treasures were placed in A Ruin with a View.
  • This is the first time that Ash and Pikachu are not alone when they see Ho-Oh.
  • An arrangement of Route 27's music can be heard at the end of the episode.
  • The Pokémon Red and Blue opening theme is used as background music for the next episode preview.
  • May narrates the preview for the next episode.
  • This is the first time Ash is possessed by an evil entity.

Dub edits

In other languages



AG177 : Grating Spaces!
Advanced Generation series
AG179 : Slaking Kong!
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