Fighting Fear with Fear!

The episode begins as Dawn places the cookpot on the table.

Dawn: Okay!

Ash and Brock have set up the food for the gang's Pokémon.

Brock: We're all set!

Ash: [calling out] 'Kay, gang. Chow time!

Dawn: Come and get it!

Once hearing this, all of the Pokémon stop swimming and start eating.

Staravia: [eating] Staravia!

Brock: That's some of my special Pokémon food. And I made plenty, so eat up.

Piplup: Pip.

Swinub: Swi! [reaches for Piplup's bowl]

Piplup: [pulls his bowl away] Pip, Pip.

Luckily, Turtwig steps in.

Turtwig: Turtwig

Dawn: [laughs] That's Turtwig for you.

Ash: Yeah. [confused] Huh? Hey, where'd Gligar go? [gets up] I'll find out. [starts calling] Hey, Gligar, come here!

Gligar: [appears above Ash] Gli.

Ash: [looks up] Huh?

Before Ash could do anything, Gligar lands on his head, but quickly pulls it off.

Ash: Why'd you do that?

Pikachu: Pika, Pikachu?

Gligar: [starts using X-Scissor against the ground] Gli! Gli!

Ash: Whoa, that's X-Scissor. Does that mean you wanna do some battle training?

Gligar: [nods] Gli, Gli!

Brock: That makes sense to me.

A flashback of Gligar's battle with Paul's Gliscor is shown.

Brock: [voice-over] Especially after Gligar had that frustrating lost with Paul's Gliscor.

The flashback ends. But once hearing this, Gligar starts groaning in despression.

Dawn: Careful. You're going to get Gligar really depressed.

Brock: Uh... sorry Gligar.

Ash: Training, huh? So you wanna get stronger, right?

Gligar: [nods] Gli!

Ash: Awesome! We'll get down to it, right after lunch!

Gligar: Gligar!

Theme song and title, then the scene changes to Gligar facing Buizel.

Narrator: As our heroes continue the Sinnoh region trek toward Hearthome City, we find a very motivated Gligar prompting a round of special training.

Buizel: Bui! Bui, Bui!

Ash: Gligar, you're in the thick of it. Use your eyes and show that winning glare!

Gligar: [steps forward] Gli! [gasps once meeting eyes with Buizel and hearing his growl]

Buizel: Bui, Bui!

In response, Gligar suddenly whimpers in fear and starts begging.

Ash: That's not gonna work. Gligar, you can't give up before you start.

Pikachu: Pika, Pika.

Ash: Gligar, now! Use X-Scissor and keep it going!

Gligar: Gli! [starts attacking] Gligar!

Unfortunately for Gligar, Buizel dodges all the X-Scissors like it was nothing.

Ash: Now, Buizel, use Aqua Jet!

Buizel cloaks himself with water and charges at Gligar, who, instead of attacking, heads for Ash and clings on his face, just before the Aqua Jet hits them.

Ash: [gets Gligar off his face; angrily] Gligar, what's wrong with you?!

However, Gligar's depression deteriorates and even starts looking at the ground.

Dawn: Ash, wait. Getting mad like that will only depress Gligar even more.

Ash: [slightly annoyed] Well... yeah, but still...

Dawn: Cheer up, Gligar, no need to worry. You'll just try a little harder next time and you'll be wonderful.

Gligar: [awkwardly hugs Dawn] Gligar.

Ash: Man, I don't want Gligar to get spoiled.

Brock: On the other hand, treating Gligar harshly isn't going to get you far either, right?

Ash: Yeah. [holds up a Pokéball] Okay, Turtwig, come on out and give me a hand!

Turtwig is sent out.

Turtwig: Turtwig!

Ash: Now, Turtwig. Energy Ball!

Turtwig: [starts forming the Energy Ball] Twig!

Gligar: [uncertain] Gligar.

Ash: Gligar, if you don't pay attention, you won't be able to dodge.

Turtwig: [fires the Energy Ball at Gligar] Turtwig! ​In reponse, Gligar leaps up and dodges the Energy Ball which hits the ground.Gligar: Gli!

Ash: Now use Steel Wing right from where you are!

Gligar: [hesitating] Gli!

Gligar starts diving towards Turtwig with Steel Wing, but pauses in mid-dive once meeting its glare and stance, causing it to whimper in fear and spin around.

Brock: Huh?

Suddenly, Gligar turns around.

Ash: Look out!

He suddenly runs away with Pikachu in tow once noticing Gligar is heading to them.

Ash: Come on, Gligar! Not over here!

Dawn: Of course, now Gligar can fly straight as an arrow.

Brock groans. Cut back to Gligar still chasing Ash.

Ash: [pointing at Turtwig off-screen] Your opponent's back over there!

Gligar, however, closes in on Ash and lands on his face, not before he gets Gligar off.

Ash: [angrily] What are you thinking?!

In response, Gligar starts crying.

Ash: You're gonna have to stop crying and start toughening up! Let's try it once more.

Gligar: Gligar! [flies away]

Ash: Gligar, where are you?

Pikachu: Pika, Pika!

Dawn: Hey, Gligar!

Brock: Say something!

Ash: This is just great. Things don't go perfectly, so Gligar throws in the towel.

Pikachu: [disappointed] Pika.

Ash: [looks up] Huh? [to Staravia] Staravia, did you find Gligar?

Staravia: Star! [flies off] Staravia! Star.

The others start following Staravia, until they encounter Gary with Gligar.

Pikachu: Pika?

Brock: Huh?

Dawn: It's the poetry guy's grandson.

In response, the rest crashes in front of Gary and Gligar.

Gary: Hey, it'd be a lot easier if you used my name.

Ash: Hey, Gary. Why are you here?

Gary: I was just on my way to Lake Valor to check out that legendary Pokémon you guys saw.

A flashback revealing Ash and Pikachu seeing Azelf's spirit at Lake Valor during the first night of the Wallace Cup is shown.

Ash: [voice-over] I'll never forget that.

The flash-back ends.

Brock: So does this mean Professor Rowan sent you?

Gary: Yeah. Hey, what's up with this Gligar?

Ash: It's mine. We were just doing some special training.

Gary: Let me guess. In the middle of your training, Gligar took off.

Ash: Gary, how did you know that?

Gary: Just call it a good guess. Seems like your training method leaves a little to be desired, Ashey boy.

Ash: [irately] What was that?!

Gary: Hey, I'm just offering you my help.

Ash: Thanks, but no thanks. [to Gligar] Come on, Gligar, let's try it once more.

Gligar: [hides behind Gary] Gli!

Gary: Sounds like a "no, thank you" to me.

Ash: Oh yeah?! [starts pulling Gligar towards him] Come on!

Even so, Gligar resists.

Dawn: Maybe you should take on Gary's offer to help.

Ash and Gligar suddenly stop.

Brock: Yeah, just do this for Gligar. It might be best for everybody.

Gary: Yeah. What have you got to lose?

Ash sighs in frustration.

Pikachu: Pika, Pi.

Gary bring out his Umbreon.

Umbreon: Umbreon.

Gary: It's Gligar against Umbreon. We'll be able to show you a few things.

Ash: We won't go easy on ya! [to Gligar] Now, Gligar, Steel Wing! Gligar: [starts diving towards Umbreon with Steel Wing] Gli!Gary: Umbreon, Shadow Ball!

Umbreon: [charging Shadow Ball] Umbi! [fires the Shadow Ball at Gligar]

Gligar: [dodges] Gli!

But then, Gligar becomes petrified and lands on Ash's face.

Gary: I get it. Gligar freaks out easily when facing an opponent.

Ash: But Gligar, you wanna get strong?

Gligar: [nods sadly] Gligar.

Brock: Even though Gligar wants to get strong, as soon as any battling begins, this huge wave of uncontrollable fear takes over.

Gary: All right, so the first thing we have to do is getting over that fear.

Dawn: But how do you do that?

Ash: You focus in and concentrate!

Gary: Ash, I guess you'll never change.

Ash gasps, then groans in frustration.

Gary: The most important thing about working with Steel Wing is to jump as high as you can. So, if we master that, no doubt Gligar will have much more confidence in battle. Dawn: That's great. Gary sure gives instructions much better than Ash.Ash: [irately] I heard that!

Brock: But how does Gligar increase its jumping power?

Gary: By using the end of Gligar's tail like a spring when it takes off. ​Ash: Awesome. [to Gligar] 'Kay Gligar, use the end of your tail like a spring when you jump.Gligar: [stands on its tail] Gligar!

Ash: Now Steel Wing! Go!

Gligar: Gli! [starts flapping] Gli! Gli! Gli! [leaps off the ground]

Ash: What a jump!

Once noticing the view, however, Gligar gasps, then whimpers in fear and starts flailing down until it hits Ash's face again, making everyone gasp.

Pikachu: Pika Pi!

Dawn: Oh, no.

Brock: Now Gligar has gotta deal with a fear of heights.

Gary: We've got a problem, all right. How much battling has Gligar done?

Dawn: Not much. Gligar got beaten pretty badly battling a Gliscor. Maybe that's why Gligar's so scared now.

Gary: [thinking] Yeah, makes sense. A Gliscor. [reaching for his pocket] Hey, I know! We'll evolve Gligar! [holds up' a Razor Fang]

Ash: Huh?

Dawn: What's that?

Piplup: Piplup!

Brock: It's a Razor Fang.

Gary: We'll just evolve Gligar into Gliscor with this. [gives the Razor Fang to Ash] And once we do, all sorts of Gligar's abilities will improve and we can put the brakes on all that fear.

Ash: Wow, thanks Gary.

Gligar: [eagerly tries to get the Razor Fang] Gli!

Ash: Calm down, Gligar. Evolving is no substitute for some honest hard work. You can evolve after you conquer your fear. [motions Gligar to stop, so it did]

Suddenly, the gang hears something rumbling far off.

Gary: What the?

From below, Team Rocket appears in a Gliscor-shaped balloon.

Jessie: A clueless twerp is certainly nothing new.

James: You're all pros at not getting a clue.

Jessie: Face the facts!

James: For a change!

Meowth: Stinks to be you!

Jessie: We'll bring chaos at a breakneck pace.

James: We'll dash all hope and put fear in its place.

Jessie: It's old home week for the twerps, we'll see.

James: But without us, you're short by three.

Jessie: Jessie!

James: And James!

Meowth: Meowth makes it triple, you see!

Jessie: Putting you do-gooders in their place!

James: We're Team Rocket!

Team Rocket: In your face! [form their logo]

Wobbuffet: [pops out] Wobbuffet! Wobba!

Dawn and Brock: Team Rocket!

Gary: Don't you guys ever get tired of being lame?

Team Rocket: SILENCE!

Meowth: Check out our Gliscor-bot! [presses a button]

Gliscor-Bot: [robotically] Gliscor!

Dawn: We haven't found Ash and Gligar yet, and the sun is starting to go down.

Gary: I know this terrain like the back of my hand. And there just aren't that many places where Team Rocket's balloon could have touched down. This way.

Dawn: Right behind you, Gary.

Piplup: Piplup.

Meanwhile, after eating all the canned food, Team Rocket falls asleep.

Jessie: Mission accomplished. My needle's on full.

Meowth: The only good tummy is a fully packed tummy.

At the same time, it gives Ash and Gligar their only chance to escape.

Ash: Great. Now we can get outta here. [to Gligar] Quick, face the bars and then use X-Scissor.

Gligar: Gli. [hits the cage with X-Scissor] Gligar!

The cage just won't budge.

Ash: One more time.

Gligar: Gli. Gligar! [uses X-Scissor on the cage again, but still doesn't budge]

Before Ash is about to order another attack, Gligar shows its pincers to him, which are glowing red in pain.

Ash: [softly] 'Kay, let me take a shot. Here we go! [groans as he tackles the cage]

Gligar: [astonished] Gli.

Ash: One more time. [tackles the cage a second time]

But then, Ash's hat fall off his head, which he puts back on.

Ash: Look out! Here I come! [tackles a third time]

After that, Ash starts wincing for the pain in his shoulder.

Ash: Huh?

Gligar: Gli. Gligar.

Ash: Gligar. [confident] Then use X-Scissor one more time.

Gligar: Gli. Gligar! [uses X-Scissor on the bars a third time]

Then the pain in Gligar's pincers appears again, but Gligar struggles to endure it.

Ash: [realising the pain in endured] Huh? [confident] All right. Try it once again!

Gligar: Gli. [uses X-Scissor a fourth time] Gligar!

Ash: [budges the bars lightly] Huh? Just a little more. Let's both of us try.

Gligar: Gli.

Ash: All right, one, two, three!

Both tackle the cage and regain their freedom.

Ash: Yeah, Gligar, way to go!

Gligar: [delighted] Gligar!

Luckily, Team Rocket didn't hear this.

Meowth: Gee, boss, thanks for the bread.

As soon as Ash and Gligar exit the forest, and stop at a rigged hanging bridge that connects a chasm.

Ash: A hanging bridge.

Gligar: [amazed] Gli.

The bridge is revealed to have several holes in it.

Ash: Come on, let's go.

When he starts to jump on the bridge, a strong wind almost blows them off. When climbing on the bridge, Gligar seems to be timid and holds on to its owner's waist. But then, the rope Ash is holding onto snaps off, causing both him and Gligar to hit the chasm's edge.

Ash: [straining] 'Kay, Gligar, you gotta hang on tight.

As Ash is starting to climb out of the chasm with Gligar in tow, James wakes up.

James: [yawns, then gasps in shock] Those two twerps totalled the trap!

James heads over to Jessie and Meowth.

James: Attention! Up, you lazy louts!

While this happens, Ash and Gligar managed to climb out of the canyon, much to the former's exhaustion.

Gligar: [nervously] Gligar.

Ash: I'm telling you, you gotta stop worrying. Now first things first, I gotta figure out how to cross.

He starts looking and notices a tall tree next to the cliff.

Ash: I've got it. That'll work. [pointing at the tree] Okay, Gligar, use Steel Wing to knock down that tree!

Gligar: [leaps up] Gli!

Ash: That's it. Now, give it all you got!

Gligar: [determined] Gli! [starts diving towards the tree] Gli. [hits the tree with Steel Wing, but gets knocked back] Gli!

Ash: [gets hit by Gligar and grunts] You all right?

The pain reappears in Gligar's pincers, but once Gligar endures it, it struggles to get up.

Gligar: [determined] Gli.

Ash: [shocked] Whoa, what's gotten into you? [exited] Way to go! I know you can do it now!

Gligar: Gli!

Ash: Okay, use Steel Wing!

Ash: All you have to do is keep believing in yourself.

Ash: Now hit it!

Ash: You did it, Gligar! [starts dancing in glory] You did it! You did it! [twirls Gligar, then calmly holds up the Razor Fang] You know what means? You can use the Razor Fang and evolve if you want to.

Gligar: Gli. [happily hugs Ash] Gligar!

In response, Ash feels glad, but their moment is disturbed once Team Rocket reappears in their Gliscor-Bot.

James: All right, jailbreakers, we'll take it from here.

Jessie: It's back in the twerp box for you!

Ash: Can't you guys give a rest?!

Meowth: [laughs] What? And miss out on playin' with toys and messin' with you?

Wobbuffet: [hopping] Wobbuffet!

James: One Gligar, please.

Meowth: To go! [fires the Gliscor-Bot's tail at Gligar]

Just before the tail can reach Gligar, Ash grabs it.

Ash: LOOK OUT!

In the process, both Ash becomes grabbed by the tail with Gligar in tow.

Ash: AAAAHHH!!! Quick Gligar, you gotta get moving!

Gligar: Gli?

Being sure that Gligar knows what to do, Ash drops his Pokémon in the canyon.

Gligar: GLIGAR!!!!!!!!!

Team Rocket: WHAT?!

Jessie: The twerp flipped!

James: [pointing at Ash as if he was a dog] Bad twerp!

Ash: [struggling] No, you don't!

Unfortunately for Ash, he falls into the chasm at the moment he escapes the tail's grasp.

Ash: Aaaaaaaahhh!

Gligar: Gli!

Gligar: Gligar!

Ash: Gligar, heads up! [tosses the Razor Fang] The Razor Fang! Grab it!

Ash: It evolved.