PJ138: A Fated Face-Off!

is the 2nd episode of of .
==Synopsis==
Ash and Pikachu continue their journey with a trip to an ocean beach. Pikachu fishes up a Clauncher with its tail, and Ash becomes determined to catch it—but someone else wants it, too! Misty appears and explains that she's been after the Clauncher for a while, so the two Trainers decide to battle for the chance to catch it. Unfortunately, Team Rocket is ravenous and sees Clauncher's claw as a potential meal, but Corphish and Clauncher work together to send them blasting off. Then, Ash and Misty finally battle, and Misty wins! Clauncher joins her team, and soon after, Misty rejoins Ash's traveling party, too!
==Episode plot==
As Ash arrives at the ocean, he brings out his Corphish, Levanny, Totodile and Rowlet, the former delighted to see the ocean again and knocking everyone into the water in his excitement. Pikachu dips his tail into the water, only for him to end up getting pinched by a mysterious Pokémon. As he leaps into the air, the Pokémon is revealed to be a Clauncher. Corphish immediately notices the Clauncher and returns to shore, where he has a brief challenge with him. Ash decides to catch Clauncher, only for Misty to appear and state that she's catching him. 
Misty states that since she met Clauncher, she felt like it was fate for her to catch him. Misty congratulates Ash for becoming the new Champion, as the match with Leon made her decide to go out on a journey herself, so she left the Gym to her sisters. The two argue and eventually decide on a fishing contest to see who would catch Clauncher. Meanwhile, Team Rocket spots the two in their Magikarp submarine, but they're starving and soon notice Clauncher when Misty manages to reel him in. When their Rotom Phone tells them that Clauncher's claw is a prized delicacy, they decide to catch him to eat.
Clauncher pulls Misty into the water and repeats the same with Ash before stating that he will accept being caught in return for a battle. Ash initially mistakes this as Clauncher allowing Ash to catch him, so he responds by blasting him with Water Gun. Corphish then clarifies what Clauncher wants, so Ash deduces that he wants a battle instead. Suddenly, Team Rocket appears and reels Clauncher in with their own hook, revealing their intent to eat his claw before returning the rest of him. Corphish rushes in and slashes the reel. As Jessie tries to urge an escape, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet are too exhausted to move from hunger. Corphish and Clauncher both use Crabhammer, destroying the submarine and sending Team Rocket blasting off once more.
Returning to their battle, Misty decides to send out her Politoed, while Ash initially decides on Pikachu due to the type advantage, but Corphish interrupts and takes his place instead. Ash starts the battle by having Corphish use Crabhammer, but Politoed uses Bounce to dodge the attack and hit Corphish in return. Corphish then charges in with Metal Claw while Politoed charges up a Focus Blast and negates the attack. Politoed then charges up Hydro Pump, which Corphish manages to avoid, and lands an Aqua Jet. As Ash has Corphish follow-up with the same move, Politoed manages to recover and holds Corphish in place before using Mega Punch. In the end, Politoed manages to knock Corphish out, making Misty the winner of the battle.
Ash's Pokémon, apart from Rowlet, are saddened by the loss before Rowlet wakes up and wonders what's happening. Corphish apologizes to Ash for losing, but Ash consoles him. Per the rules, Misty catches Clauncher and brings him out, but he suddenly goes to Corphish and begins to train him, much to her bafflement as Ash and his other Pokémon join in. Meanwhile, Latias flies over them.
As Ash walks in a forest, he senses Misty behind him, who states that she's accompanying him for Clauncher's sake, as he and Corphish get along well. Ash told Misty that she's in too. Misty smiled with and said We will have a great journey.
==Debuts==
===Pokémon===
*Misty's Clauncher
==Trivia==
*"Who's That Pokémon?": Corphish
*Ash's Corphish, Misty's Politoed, and Misty's Clauncher are all confirmed to be male in this episode.
** Since Politoed's reappearance, he permanently has larger cheeks from his previous appearances onwards due to gender differences, which were introduced in Generation IV.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring Legendary Pokémon
Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a new Pokémon
Category:Episodes focusing on Misty
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes focusing on Pikachu
Category:Episodes in which a main character joins the group
Category:Episodes featuring Champions