RS164: Cutting the Ties That Bind!

is the 18th episode of Pokémon: Battle Frontier.
==Synopsis==
Ash has arrived at Metallica Island, home of the Battle Palace. He's ready for battle, but Sceptile isn't—its attack moves still aren't working and it runs away in frustration. When Ash follows, they're attacked by a swarm of Beedrill and fall into a river, losing Sceptile's Poké Ball along the way! Pikachu is washed away, but Ash manages to grab Sceptile. Scott finds Ash's friends and tells them this is the time of year when the island's Kakuna evolve, so the Beedrill are extra vigilant—everyone had better grab some Repel and find Ash fast.
Elsewhere in the forest, a kind old man and his Venusaur rescue Pikachu and take care of it at their campsite. Scott finds the campsite and introduces Ash's friends to Spenser, head of the Battle Palace! Spenser encourages everyone to take a rest before they resume looking for Ash.
Ash and Sceptile continue to search for Pikachu, but the Beedrill chase them to a dead end. Ash is hurt protecting Sceptile, and Pikachu and the others arrive just in time to calm the Beedrill down. Team Rocket then swoops in, snatching Pikachu and Sceptile. Ash tries to stop them from escaping in their balloon, but Jessie's Dustox knocks him off. Seeing this, Sceptile uses its moves to rescue Ash, though the effort leaves it worn out. A little healing from Spenser's Chansey restores Sceptile's strength, and now it can finally send Team Rocket blasting off! With Pikachu found and Sceptile back to normal, Ash challenges Spenser to a battle—after a good night's rest for everyone, of course.
==Episode plot==
The heroes came to the Metallica island. Ash rallies his Pokémon, while May trains her Eevee, who uses Shadow Ball. Brock feeds his Bonsly and Max watches them training. Max tells Brock she will use Eevee in her next Contest. Donphan slams a rock when it rolls, Corphish uses BubbleBeam to destroy the remaining rocks and Swellow Quick Attack. Sceptile goes to use Bullet Seed, but fails. Sceptile is exhausted, while Brock says his heart must heal soon. Ash's Pokémon try to reason with Sceptile, and Ash tells him a rest at Pokémon Center should do it, but Sceptile runs away, so Ash goes after him.
Sceptile runs away and bashes his head on a tree. Ash comes and tries to help him out. Suddenly, Sceptile and Pikachu sense something. A large hive of Beedrill arrive who attack. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, electrocuting them all, but more Beedrill arrive. Since they cannot do much, Ash, Sceptile and Pikachu run away. They run, though they came near a powerful river. The Beedrill arrive and begin attacking Sceptile, who stands in their way and gets injured in the process. Ash goes to call him back, but Beedrill knocks Sceptile, who is knocked over Ash, losing his Pokéball and making them and Pikachu fall to the river. Ash grabs to a rock and grabs Sceptile, but Pikachu is dragged down the river. Ash calls Pikachu and Team Rocket hear that noise. They see Beedrill and place down a box. The Beedrill pierce the box, so Team Rocket runs away.
At the Pokémon Center, the heroes are worried since Pikachu & Ash did not return yet. Scott greets them and wonders where Ash & Pikachu. The heroes tell that he and Pikachu ran to get Sceptile, but Scott tells them the trouble is that in this time of the year all of the Metallica Island Kakuna evolve into deadly Beedrill and that the swarms are exceedingly territorial, attacking anyone who is in their home. Scott believes they might got attacked and goes to grab a few stuff to help them in their search. Ash carries Sceptile to get Pikachu. Sceptile is weak, so Ash decides to take a break, knowing that Pikachu should be fine. Scott, May, Max and Brock search for Ash. Scott gives them a repellent against Beedrill for protection. Bonsly sees a Poké Ball, so the heroes recognize it as Ash's. They realize as well Ash fell in the river, so they follow the river.
The night came, Sceptile ate some berries, feeling better. Ash proposes they should get to sleep and prays for Pikachu to be okay. Pikachu came out of the river and is very exhausted then falls to the ground soon enough. A Venusaur comes, carrying an old man. The heroes wander to look for Ash, but see smoke. The heroes arrive, while Pikachu is drinking what the old man made. The old man tells Pikachu will be fine and greets Scott. Scott introduces them the old man, known as Spenser, the Palace Maven, a Frontier Brain. The heroes ask Spenser if they saw Ash, but he did not. The heroes agree to search for Ash, but they are hungry, so Venusaur gives some fruit to them. Spenser tells them they should eat and wait until the Beedrill go to sleep.
Ash talks in his sleep to be okay. Sceptile hears this and goes to sleep, pleased. Spenser is told about Sceptile's problem. Team Rocket hears them and plan to take Pikachu, thinking this might be a good opportunity. The heroes are pleased with food. Spenser tells them they do everything according to nature. He says he lives here in a way of life it should be. Pikachu wakes up, feeling powerful, so everyone goes to search for Ash. Next morning, Ash carries Sceptile and yells to find Pikachu. They both trip over and Ash's knee is wounded. They both stand up to get to the Center. They encounter a lot of Kakuna, but they do not see Beedrill. They cross the path and soon Beedrill arrive. They see sunlight and go towards it, but it is just a dead end.
Ash grabs a stick to protect Sceptile and himself. Though he succeeds, he gets hurt by one of them. Sceptile protects Ash and goes to use Bullet Seed, but fails. Just before the Beedrill hurt Sceptile, Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, stopping them and the heroes come. The Beedrill go to attack, but they stop when Venusaur soothes them with its smell. Ash greets Scott and the Beedrill go away after Spenser asked them to leave. Ash thanks him, but Pikachu and Sceptile are being taken away by Team Rocket. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, but the gear it is caught in is electric-proof. Ash runs to the nearest log and jumps to the balloon. Meowth swings the gear, trying to lose the twerp.
Jessie sends Dustox, who uses Poison Sting on Ash. Ash promises to get Pikachu and Sceptile out. Dustox tackles Ash, making him fall down. Sceptile sees this and uses Leaf Blade - successfully. He cuts the gear, getting Pikachu, using Quick Attack to get Ash and Bullet Seed to land safely. Ash is pleased, but Sceptile is too weak from his wounds to do anything else. Spenser sends Chansey, who heals Sceptile using Healing Bell. Team Rocket is not impressed and is angry. Spenser tells them Sceptile is recovered and is on its natural ground, the forest. Still, Dustox goes to tackle and Cacnea uses Needle Arm, but Sceptile uses Leaf Blade, stopping both attacks. Sceptile blasts them off with Bullet Seed.
At the Pokémon Center, Ash thanks Spenser for saving his life. Spenser tells that rescuing others is natural way. Scott tells Spenser Ash wants to ask him, but first tells Ash to rest, then battle him. Ash asks Spenser for a battle, so Spenser agrees to the challenge.
==Debuts==
===Humans===
*Palace Maven Spenser
===Pokémon===
*Spenser's Venusaur
*Spenser's Chansey
==Trivia==
*The English title of this episode is very similar to that of a previous episode.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash