GS079: The Poké Spokesman

is the 38th episode of Pokémon: Johto League Champions.
==Synopsis==
On the long trek to Olivine City, our heroes notice Pikachu looks a bit worn out. Brock suggests it's the trudging along this trail that has taken a toll. Just then, an old man appears from beside the path and explains the soil in this region contains minerals that absorb electricity. He walks up to Pikachu, kneels down and starts speaking to Pikachu in Pokémon tongue! Upon Pikachu's response, he rises and tells Ash that Pikachu is exhausted and cannot walk much further. Introducing himself as Simon, he suggests the crew follow him to his rest-stop. Upon their arrival, Ash hooks up Pikachu to a nearby bicycle with the electrodes attached to it. The more Ash pedals, the more electricity is pumped back into Pikachu's cheeks. Simon explains to Misty and Brock he won't charge for the recharge and he'll wave his translation fee. Surprised he charges at all for his rest-stop remedies, Misty and Brock are cut short of saying anything by the arrival of Officer Jenny. There to arrest Simon, she explains several local trainers have been swindled out of money recently by a person claiming to be a Pokémon interpreter. Can Simon really talk to the Pokémon, or is he the scam artist Officer Jenny has been looking for?
==Episode plot==
The heroes continue towards Olivine City. Suddenly, Pikachu is exhausted, so the heroes believe he is tired from walking on mountains. An old man approaches them, believing the minerals around absorb his energy. He converses with Pikachu and confirms that is the case, so he tells them to go to his rest stop. Pikachu tries to go, but is too weak. The heroes are surprised, as Pikachu told the man this. The man replies he speaks fluent Pokémon, causing the heroes to be shocked. Team Rocket are disguised as old men and eat some food. James likes the fact they got a senior discount for the disguises, but they have no money. Meowth replies they'll think of something. Upon seeing their foes, they hide under the bench. Simon shows them the rest stop and knows Pikachu will have to be recharged. Upon wiring Pikachu to the machine, Ash paddles the bicycle, charging Pikachu up. The man asks if they have other Electric Pokémon they need to be recharged. Brock tells they have no other and Pikachu is the only one. Simon sees he won't charge much for using the bicycle and interpreting Pokémon language, since he needs to take care of the rest stop.
Team Rocket heard the part when Pikachu was out of electricity, so they flip the bench, causing Misty, Brock and Simon to be bruised. Jessie tells them to prepare for trouble, so Simon believes they need tea. James is furious, as he takes off his disguise, along with Jessie and Meowth. Suddenly, Team Rocket realize that Simon speaks Pokémon, but they never heard of a person able to talk Pokémon language. They ask him how he does that, so Simon speaks with Pikachu. Meowth cannot hear what they are talking. Simon knows most people cannot understand Pokémon language. Jenny appears and goes to arrest the man, named Simon, under arrest for making a scam. She heard reports of a Pokémon interpreter and knows it is Simon. Simon tells it is not a fraud and tells she can ask a Pokémon. Jenny does not believe him, but turns her attention to Team Rocket. She thinks she saw them before and brings out a wanted picture of Cassidy and Butch. She still goes to get them, but, suddenly, smoke projectiles are being fired, clouding the area.
Team Rocket take advantage of it and escape. However, Simon disappears as well. Pikachu coughs out smoke, so they all go to the Pokémon Center. Team Rocket hide and see Simon with three men going away. Thinking they threw the smoke bombs, Team Rocket decides to follow them. At a lodge, Simon faces the scam Pokémon interpreter, who faked all this for money. Simon wants his language skill to help Pokémon in trouble, while in exchange he can have his rest stop stay in business. The man just tells they tell the trainers the stuff they want to hear. Team Rocket heard all this. Jessie thinks they can be interpreters and James thinks what is important what the Pokémon says. Meowth scratches him and says that unlike these scam people, he knows that what the Pokémon says is true and honorable. Jessie and James respond they know a certain Pokémon who lies all the time. Meowth asks which one is that, then realizes it was him. He remembers before he talked, he was honorable, so wishes he did not have this intellect. Simon refuses to work with these men, who decide not to let him go. Team Rocket plan on rescuing Simon and have him work under their employ to earn cash.
At the Pokémon Center, Pikachu is recharged. Joy tells Ash Pikachu will be fine by tomorrow, while Jenny bids farewell to the heroes, wishing them luck on their journey. Ash wonders if Oak is awake, so he contacts him. Oak tells the known cases of human understanding Pokémon language is written in fairy tales. Ash thanks him on this info and thinks Simon was a fraud. Simon comes and thinks he might be a fraud, but knows in his heart he can speak with Pokémon. He goes to see if Pikachu is okay and talks with him. Simon sees Pikachu is feeling better. Misty and Brock ask if he can really talk with Pokémon. Simon responds he mostly feels the feeling, not the words. However, he remembers when he did speak with Pokémon, perfectly. Simon goes to tell the tale, which happened 60 years ago. When a terrible storm came, his father put him in a basement to safety. Simon was alone, but was visited by Oddish, Pidgey and Rattata. They were bored, but were pleased to talk with a new person. Soon, he became friends with those Pokémon and talked with them for hours. When Simon was discovered, Simon told the Pokémon to come with him, but saw they disappeared. He never saw them again.
Simon thinks that day was an illusion, but always tries to speak with Pokémon in that fashion. He thinks they can understand and he can by his heart, but sometimes wonders that he only fools everyone. Pikachu comes and says to Simon, so Simon sees Pikachu thanked him. Suddenly, Magnemite and Magneton appear. The scam interpreters appear, as Simon escapes. Team Rocket fly in their balloon and see the event. The Magnemite and Magneton are draining electricity from the Center. Joy tells them to stop, but the men want Simon to join for that to happen. Ash goes to battle them, but Simon stops him, as he will talk to them with his heart. Simon converses with Magnemite and Magneton (making Meowth to hear him talking, though not in Pokémon language). Simon begs them to stop draining electricity, for even if he should go to jail, the Pokémon must not be left without the electricity, else they will not survive. Magnemite and Magneton stop draining electricity, as they fall down. Team Rocket are touched, as Meowth sees Simon can speak to a Pokémon's heart.
The fraud interpreter orders Magnemite and Magneton to fight. They are drained, yet they refuse to obey after hearing Simon's heartfelt message, so the man goes to scold them. Pikachu shares his electricity with Magnemite and Magneton. The men attempt to get away, but gets shocked instead. The police surrounds them. Simon comes and tells if they are going to be captured, so should he. Jenny heard Joy's story about all this and thanks Simon for rescuing the Center. Team Rocket are glad for not being arrested and haven't blasted off. However, they blast off after a lightning bolt hits their balloon. Next day, Simon shakes hands with Pikachu and decides to give up on interpreting. The heroes think he should continue, as he might have a breakthrough. Simon ponders this thought, then bids farewell to the heroes. Suddenly, Simon encounters a Meowth and talks with him. Meowth talks back and tells he speaks Pokémon. Simon sees this is the breakthrough and has confidence to continue as an interpreter. Jessie and James ask Meowth how does it feel to be the good guy. Meowth replies it is nice for a change.
==Trivia==
*"Pocket Monster TV:" Magneton (JP)
*"Who's that Pokémon?": Wooper (US)
===Mistakes===
*Simon says he speaks "fluent Pokémon", suggesting that although each Pokémon only says it's name (or makes other noises, such as Onix) this is the same language regardless of Pokémon species. There is no "Pikachu language" or "Bulbasaur language" etc., just one overall Pokémon language. This has been demonstrated on numerous occasions when different Pokémon easily communicate with each other as though they were speaking.
*Officer Jenny says that Pokémon can't understand human speech, but this is obviously not the case, otherwise trainers would not be able to give their Pokémon orders in battle. Pikachu for example, has never had any trouble understanding Ash or any other humans in or out of battle, plus Pikachu has always been able to convey various messages to Ash, mainly through gesture/mime, but should have been able to defend Simon.
===Dub differences===
There is a 29 second scene that is removed from the English dub featuring Team Rocket attempting to blow up the phony Pokémon interpreters' hideout. They have three missiles, and shoot at the hideout two times; however on their last one, the missile just suddenly pops out of the gun which creates an explosion, making them blast off once again.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes focusing on Team Rocket
Category:Episodes focusing on Pikachu