Mastering Current Events!

The episode begins with the gang travelling through a forest.

Piplup: Piplup...

Ash: Oh, no. Man... Bet ya we're lost.

Dawn: How big is this forest, anyway?

Brock: [reads his guide book] Heading over this way should get us out of here fast.

Ash: [throws a Poké Ball] Gliscor, I choose you!

Gliscor: Gliscor!

Ash: Gliscor, have a look.

Gliscor: [flies up] Gli!

The gang then decides to move on.

Narrator: [voice-over] While Dawn's next Pokémon Contest in Daybreak Town awaits, our heroes seem to have gotten a little turned around, and are presently lost in a deep forest.

Gliscor: [from outside the forest] Gliscor! Gliscor!

Ash: [hearing Gliscor's voice; to Dawn and Brock] That way!

Ash: Yeah, we're outta here!

Pikachu: Pika?

Cut to the mountainous the gang suddenly sees.

Ash: Check it out.

Cut back to the gang.

Gliscor: [off-screen] Gliscor!

Ash: Gliscor!

Scizor: [off-screen] Scizor!

Ash : What's that?

Cut to Gliscor being chased by a Scizor.

Ash: [off-screen] It's a Scizor!

Gliscor: Gli! [lands right next to the gang]

Piplup: Piplup!

Brock: [points off-screen] Look!

Cut to a Chimecho floating.

Dawn: A Chimecho!

The Scizor that was chasing Gliscor zooms by.

Ash: Whoa, fast!

Gliscor: Gli.

Brock: Look, Scizor's using Metal Claw!

Ash: Chimecho's using Psywave back!

Brock: This time it's Double Hit.

Gliscor: [amazed] Scor.

Unfortunately for Chimecho, Scizor sends it flying.

Gliscor: Gliscor! [dodges Chimecho along with Pikachu]

Piplup: [gets hit by Chimecho on the head] Piplup!

Dawn: Piplup, no!

Piplup: [unconscious] Piplup...

Theme song and title, then the scene changes to Dawn holding Piplup.

Piplup: [moaning] Lup...

Dawn: Piplup, please tell me you're all right.

Suddenly, a balloon containing a girl named Maya lands.

Maya: Sorry, but I never thought people or Pokémon would be way out here like this. [to Chimecho] Chimecho, are you okay?

Chimecho: [get up] Chime, Chime. Chime, Chime, Chime.

Dawn looks up in her Pokédex about Chimecho.

Rosette: Chimecho, the Wind Chime Pokémon. Its cries, which reverberate in its hollow body, emerge as notes of beauty, which drive off its opponents.

Dawn looks away from her Pokédex, noticing McCann and his Scizor stepping out of their balloon once it lands.

McCann: Huh? I'll be. I'm shocked too see signs of life in this thick forest

Ash: Hey, excuse me? Is that your Scizor?

Maya: Wow. You don't know who this is, don't you?

Ash: Hmm... Guess I don't.

McCann and Maya: Huh?

Dawn: Well, I sure know. They did a story on you for "Sinnoh Now".

Brock: Huh?

Dawn: Yeah, you're that Air Battle Master. McCann.

Ash: Air Battle Master?

Maya: Right, that's it! See, when it comes to air battling, my Grandfather McCann is undefeated and unbeatable.

Ash: Wow.

Maya: But now that's he's retired, he lives a quiet life up the mountains near here. Sometimes, he even lets me battle him.

Brock: I see! So that's what that air battle was all about!

McCann: [gestures to the valley with his staff] Now, the thing is, the wind that blows around here makes this valley quite unique. It's about as air battles as you're going to get.

Maya: Every so often, someone asks Grandpa to teach them everything he knows. So many seem to wanna learn every last one of his secrets. Just yesterday, a student asked to help make his Crobat stronger.

Brock: And so, did you help him out?

McCann: Nah. I decided he didn't have a chance.

Maya: Right. See, most people don't have a chance, but even if they can't become students, they their Pokémon to be trained, right, Grandpa?

McCann: Right, dear.

Maya: So most requests get turned down right from the start.

McCann: I figure if there's no chance for them to become strong, it's a waste of my time.

Gliscor: [pops up behind Ash] Gliscor!

Ash: Huh? Gliscor, wanna try?

Gliscor: [eager] Gliscor, Gliscor!

Ash: [points at his Gliscor] Mr. McCann, would you consider battling my Gliscor, please? You see, we're on a journey together to win the Sinnoh League.

McCann: Are you saying your Gliscor is strong?

Ash: Yeah. Gliscor's a huge help in my Gym battles.

Gliscor: Gliscor!

McCann: Well, I wonder about that.

Dawn: It'll be great! Please?

Brock: It sure would.

Pikachu: Pika, Pika.

Piplup: Piplup, Piplup.

Maya: Why not? Since you're retired, there's not that much to do.

McCann: Perhaps. Might be a nice way to kill some time.

Dawn and Brock sweatdrop and chuckle in response, while Gliscor gives a "I don't get it" look.

Ash: Kill some time, huh?

Scizor: Scizor!

Gliscor: Gli!

Dawn opens up her Pokédex.

Rosette: Scizor, the Pincer Pokémon. It threathens enemies with its eye-patterned claws, which can swing swing with tremendous force when used in battle.

Dawn: Wow. Strong.

Ash: Yeah.

Ash: C'mon, Gliscor. You know you can't turn well at that speed.

Dawn: Gliscor, you gotta wake up.

Jessie: Puh-leeze. You'd think the twerps were using vanishing cream.

Meowth: Well, they slathered it on when they hit the forest.

James: So twerpishly slick.

Maya: Grandpa, shouldn't you wrap this up soon?

McCann: I suppose. No sense wasting anymore of my time.

Cut to Scizor.

McCann: Scizor, Hyper Beam, let's go!

Gliscor: Gli...

As the balloon of the gang lands, Ash heads for his worn out Gliscor.

Ash: Gliscor, are you okay?

Gliscor: Gli...

Brock: That was rough.

Ash: Yeah. Poor Gliscor wasn't even able to get in a single hit.

Gliscor: [tearfully] Gli...

Ash: Hey, Gliscor, don't cry.

Ash: Yeah, that was a tough loss, eh, Gliscor?

It is revealed Ash is standing next to the rock Gliscor is sitting on.

Gliscor: [looks at Ash] Gliscor. Gli...

After sunset, the gang is eating at the guest house. All but Gliscor are eating their food, who is mourning about its defeat.

Ash: Gliscor? Not much of an appetite, huh?

Dawn: You've gotta eat if you wanna get stronger.

Gliscor: Gli.

Piplup: Lup. [reaches for his bowl, eating]

Ash: 'Kay, Gliscor, time for bed.

Short Pause

Gliscor: [reluctant] Scor.

Ash: But, Gliscor, you've gotta get some rest.

Brock: I guess Gliscor's got a lot to think about.

Ash: Guess so.

Pikachu: Pika?

Pikachu: Pika, Pika?

Gliscor: [calmly] Gli.

Pikachu: Pikachu.

Ash: Gliscor.

Gliscor: [looks away] Gli.

Ash: Too upset to sleep, huh?

Gliscor: [remorseful] Scor.

Ash: Hey, what do you say we take a whack at trying to read the wind, just like McCann said?

Gliscor: Gli? [grins] Scor.

Ash: [thinking] What'd he say about reading the wind? Yeah, got it!

Cut to Gliscor following Staraptor, who has a rope tied to his tail.

Ash: Gliscor, that's it! Just keep on chasing after the rope!

McCann: Really? You want an air battle with me again?

Maya: Even though Gliscor wasn't able to land a single hit before?

Ash: Yes, we do.

He and Gliscor take a bow.

Ash: We're asking for another chance, please.

Pikachu: Pika.

Piplup: Piplup.

Dawn: Oh, please, sir. Ash and Gliscor worked really hard all night long learning to read the wind.

Brock: They get it now.

Ash: 'Course, we might not be able to beat Scizor after all this, but still. We really wanna check how we've come, and look at Gliscor's progress.

Camera pans to a determined Gliscor.

Gliscor: Gli!

Camera pans to McCann and Maya.

McCann: Dear, what should I do?

Maya: Well, there's always more time to kill, so why not?

Cut to Gliscor and Scizor facing eachother, looking determined to battle, then to McCann, Maya and the gang, who are all settled in their balloons.

McCann: All right, then. Ready to go?

Ash: Yeah.

Split cut to Dawn and Pikachu.

Dawn: Do it, Gliscor. Good luck!

Pikachu: Pika, Pika!

Just like before, Scizor is the first to take off through the wind.

Ash: Gliscor, after Scizor.

Gliscor: [takes off] Gli!

Scizor: Scizor.

Scizor: Zor.

Gliscor: Gli.

It succesfully manages to follow Scizor.

Ash: Way to go, Gliscor. X-Scissor!

Cut to Gliscor powering up its pincers.

Gliscor: Gli...

It attempts to land a hit on Scizor.

Gliscor: Scor.

Unfortunately, Scizor dodges.

Dawn: Scizor's so fast. It's amazing.

McCann: Metal Claw!

Cut to Scizor powering up its Metal Claw.

Scizor: Sciz...

Fortunately, Gliscor determinedly sees it coming and dodges it.

Gliscor: Gli.

McCann: Oh, so Gliscor can dodge now.

Ash: Gliscor, do it!

Ash: Gliscor, you okay?

Gliscor: Gli...

Ash: So we lost again.

Gliscor: Gli.

Ash: But not only did you learn how to read the wind, you learned a brand new move, too. And that's really good, you know?

Gliscor: Gli.

Brock: Sure is. It's great.

Dawn: That's real progress!

Both Pikachu and Piplup cheer on Gliscor in eagerness.

Pikachu: Pika, Pika!

Piplup: Piplup, Piplup!

Maya: Yeah, that performance really wasn't bad at all.

McCann: Indeed. Tell me, Ash. How would you like to leave Gliscor with me for a little training?

Ash: Leave Gliscor here?

McCann: If your Gliscor was to read the wind that well in just one night, there's a making of a great pupil here.

Both Ash and Gliscor are astonished.

Ash: Whoa. I don't know what to say.

McCann: It's quite amazing how this reminds me of the very first time I met Scizor. It's been a long time since I've met a Pokémon I wanted to train.

Gliscor: Gliscor?

It thoughtfully stares at the ground.

Gliscor: Gli...